Lawmakers back increased security funding as President Tinubu seeks a new law to strengthen Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
The Senate has approved a total of ₦403.1 billion for the Nigerian Police Trust Fund over the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years to strengthen policing and enhance the fight against terrorism, kidnapping, and other security threats across the country.
The approval includes ₦170.1 billion for the 2025 fiscal year and ₦233 billion for the 2026 budget, covering personnel costs, capital projects, and overhead expenditures aimed at improving the operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force.
Lawmakers expressed confidence that the funding would provide critical equipment, infrastructure, training, and other resources needed to boost security operations and tackle Nigeria’s growing security challenges.
The development comes as President Bola Tinubu transmitted a bill to the Senate seeking to overhaul Nigeria’s criminal justice system through the repeal and reenactment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
The proposed legislation seeks to replace the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2026, introducing reforms aimed at improving the administration of justice and closing procedural gaps that have slowed the judicial process.
A major provision 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.
According to President Tinubu, the proposed reforms will promote the use of technology, introduce innovative justice measures, and enhance the effective implementation of criminal justice laws by relevant institutions.
The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for further legislative consideration.