The Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, has announced the inauguration of a 24-man committee tasked with reviewing the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Act of 2019.
The Minister made this disclosure in a statement signed by Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations in the ministry, Bolaji Kazeem, in Abuja on Tuesday.
The committee, headed by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, will identify areas in the act that require amendment.
The minister, speaking through a statement by the ministry’s Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations, Bolaji Kazeem, highlighted the significant impact of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund’s interventions in the policing sector.
Gaidam said “it is on record that the Nigeria Police Trust Fund has established its presence through numerous interventions in the Police ecosystem that have impacted the policing sector in Nigeria.”
He emphasized the need for a thorough review of the act to address various issues, including the formation of a quorum for the Board of Trustees, the functions and management of the board, contractual agreements, limitations of the board’s power, and the agency’s funding sources.
Gaidam urged the committee to examine international best practices in policing and seek advice from various stakeholders, development partners, and other sources to enhance the quality of policing in Nigeria.
“I want you to go through the Act and bring out action points on those related areas that require change and justification for the continuity beyond the six years period; formula required for fund mobilization and I would like Nigeria Police Force to critically look at the issue and advise the committee.
“Give us the pros and cons of things that have happened around the world that have opened our eyes to the quality of policing around the world and what we can imbibe from other stakeholders, development partners, and others. You are not limited by anything to seek advice from many sources,” the minister added.
The committee, comprising representatives from the Ministry of Police Affairs, Nigeria Police Trust Fund, Nigeria Police Force, and Ministry of Justice, has been given a two-week deadline to submit its report.
