The Senate has passed an amendment to the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Act to increase the duration of the Trust Fund, which would expire in June.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, led the debate on the general principles of the bill at plenary on Tuesday.

Bamidele said the amendment to the duration, which would expire this month, became urgent to enable the trust fund provide for a continued training, provision of equipment and related facilities to the Nigeria Police.

“The overriding objective of the bill, basically, is to amend Section 2 (2) of the Act to increase the duration of the Trust Fund, as established by the Act.

He reminded his colleagues that the Act was enacted in 2019.

“However, the Act became operational in 2022. The provision of Section 2 (2) of the principal Act, which established the Trust Fund, provides its operational scope for a duration of six years, which will expire at the end of this month.

“As such, there is the urgent need to expedite action on the passage of the bill in accordance with the aforesaid provisions.

“The  earlier act provides that upon expiration, the Fund will cease to exist, unless it is extended by an Act of the National Assembly.

“It is imperative to state that over the last few years, after the Fund was established, a lot has been achieved in the areas of equipment and logistics.

“Training and capacity development; infrastructure (rehabilitation and expansion) , health and welfare initiatives.

“Therefore, it is imperative that the duration of the Trust Fund is further extended, in view of its laudable achievements to ensure that the Nigeria police is well-equipped to face emerging security challenges,” he said.