The approval followed the presentation of the harmonised report of the Senate and the House of Representatives Committees on Police Affairs at plenary on Wednesday.

Chairman Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Haliru Dauda Jika, presented the report.

Out of the amount, N988,279,006.05 was earmarked for personnel cost, N10,027,610,310.25 for overhead expenditure and N63,757,712,600.00 as capital expenditure.

The Senate President Ahmad Lawan read the President’s letter of request on the floor at plenary.

Buhari through the letter explained that the request was made in line with the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Act which provides for funding of the agency through a special intervention fund.

The letter reads: “Pursuant to Sections 4, 5 and 21 of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Establishment Act 2019, I forward herewith the 2021 budget proposal of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund for the kind consideration and passage by the Senate.

“The estimates of revenue and expenditure in the funds 2021 budget proposal, are consistent with the statutory purpose of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund terms of providing funding through a special intervention fund for: training and retraining of personnel of the Nigeria Police Force to enhance their skill and overall improvement, performance and efficiency in the discharge of their duties as well as responsibilities.

“Procurement of state of the art equipment, operational vehicles and other related facilities to enhance the skills of the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force in handling operational equipment.

“Construction of Police Stations, barracks and other living facilities of personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and their dependents; and Procurement of instructional materials and training equipment, as well as paying for the cost of participation of personnel of the Nigeria Police Force at seminars, conferences, and other skill acquisition courses.”

Abba further disclosed that the Fund had resolved to organise an emergency training, provide requisite state-of-the-art equipment as well as an appropriate welfare plan for personnel deployed to the new tactical team and another specialised unit of the Force.

Abba further stated, “In line with the recommendations of all previous police reforms reports, Mr President ensured the establishment of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund. These earlier police reforms recommendations provided for the objectives of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, as spelt out in section 5, Nigeria Police Trust Fund (Establishment) Act, 2019. They constitute a summation of government police reform agenda which the Nigeria Police Trust Fund is mandated to achieve.”