Lawmakers approve police funding, receive ACJA reform bill from Tinubu
The Senate has approved a combined ₦403.1bn for the Nigerian Police Trust Fund over two consecutive fiscal years, in a move aimed at strengthening policing and supporting efforts to combat terrorism, kidnapping and other security threats across the country.
The upper chamber approved ₦170.1bn for the Police Trust Fund’s 2025 budget and ₦233bn for the 2026 fiscal year.
The 2026 appropriation covers personnel costs, capital projects and overhead expenditure designed to enhance the operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force.
Lawmakers said the funding would improve the provision of critical equipment, infrastructure, training and other resources needed to strengthen security operations and tackle Nigeria’s growing security challenges.
The approval comes amid persistent concerns over rising insecurity, with citizens urging the government to intensify efforts to curb violent crime across the country.
In a separate development, President Bola Tinubu has transmitted a bill to the Senate seeking a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s criminal justice system through the repeal and reenactment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
The proposed legislation would replace the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, with a new Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2026, as part of efforts to modernise and strengthen the country’s criminal justice framework.
One of the major provisions of the bill is the establishment of a Criminal Justice Monitoring Council to oversee the implementation of the law in courts within the Federal Capital Territory and other federal courts nationwide.
In a letter read during plenary, Tinubu said the proposed legislation is intended to address procedural gaps and long-standing challenges that have slowed the administration of justice.
According to the President, the bill also seeks to align Nigeria’s criminal justice system with emerging developments by promoting the use of technology, introducing innovative measures and improving the implementation of the law by relevant institutions.
The proposed legislation has been referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for legislative consideration.