Teddy Oscar, Abuja
President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday wrote to the House of Representatives requesting it to approve the sum of N79,020 billion.
The sum, which is to be taken out of the proposed N1.5 trillion, would be used as counterpart funding for the police reform.
Jonathan stated this in a letter addressed to the speaker, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, titled: ‘Strategy for the Implementation (of) the Nigeria Police Force Reform Programme (NPRP)’ dated June 16, 2014.
The Federal Government had since April 2008 approved the MD Yusuf report for the reform of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and consequently inaugurated the Interim Implementation Committee for Police Reform Programme (IICPRP).
“60 percent funding of the programme was to be sourced from the three tiers of government and the organised private sector and international development partners. The combined annual contributions from the public sector comprising federal, state, and local governments was estimated to be N150 billion of which N79,020 billion was to be from the Federal Government.
“Notwithstanding this commitment, the realistic flow of funds has met with setbacks to the effect that the reform implementation has been tardy, even as security challenges keep increasing.
“In a decisive move to address the situation, the IICPRP set up a Funding Technical Sub-Committee to advice on the most effective way to fund the Nigeria Police Force Reform Programme.
“The committee, among other things, recommended special funding by the three tiers of government to be sourced from the next six years. The report of the committee was subsequently presented to the National Economic Council (NEC) for consideration.
“The National Economic Council agreed to and recommended a deduction of one percent from the monthly allocations of the federal, state, and local governments, to be sourced as a first fine charge subject to legislative endorsement at both federal and state levels for interested participating states,” the letter read.
He called for expedite action in the consideration and passage of the bill, and stressed the need to strengthen the Police Force in view of the foregoing and the current escalating security challenges.
“I have given the recommendation of the National Economic Council favourable consideration, consequent upon which I hereby seek the consent of the National Assembly for the deduction of one percent from the Statutory Allocation of the Federal Government of Nigeria as Federal Government contribution for the implementation of the Police Reform Programme,” he added.
