Roundtable Dialogue on the Implementation of the Police Trust Fund Act, 2019
The police Trust Fund bill was signed into bill in June 2019 by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Act seeks to establish a Police Trust Fund that will provide funds for the training and retraining of the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, provide equipment and machineries, including operational vehicles to improve the general welfare of the personnel of the NPF and enhance their preparedness to effectively discharge their constitutional responsibility of protecting life and property of the people of Nigeria. However, since the signing into law of the Act, although a standing committee has been set up, the implementation committee and the governing body- The Board of Trustees, which is to spearhead and oversee the implementation of the provisions of the Act is yet to be constituted by the government.
CLEEN Foundation on the 17th of December 2019 held a round table discussion with civil society organizations, Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government to primarily sensitize citizens on the activities of the trust fund in a bid to promote external accountability of the fund and to pressure the government to constitute the committee and the governing body that will oversee the implementation of the provisions of the act.
The Forum extensively discussed the establishment of the Trust Fund Committee in line with the provision of the Act and the promotion of accountability and transparency around the functions of the Management Board of the Fund.
Meeting the training and retraining needs of the Nigerian Police Force is one purpose for which the Act was established. Others include: Meeting operational needs (Purchase of equipment & logistics for operation- vehicles) Meeting the welfare needs of the NPF (accommodation), Procurement of resource materials for training in the several training Institutes. To meet the cost of participation of officers in local and international training.