NIGERIA POLICE GETS ADDITIONAL LIFELINE

the National Economic Council on Thursday, approved the immediate deduction of one percent of the monthly allocations due to the three tiers of government to fund the police.

The meeting, which was chaired by Vice President Namadi Sambo, directed that the amount be deducted as a first line charge. Chairman of the Police Reform Interim Implementation Committee and Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, announced that the deducted amount will be domiciled in various states of the federation, while the fifty-three percent Federal Government component of the 1% fund would be spread across the states.  

The cash, which is like what is being deducted for power and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Obi said, would largely assist in tackling insecurity.

The Committee equally recommended the pruning down of the initial overall cost estimate of the reform from N2.8 trillion to N 1.5 trillion, as well as the extension of the reform period from five to six years. The reforms are to ensure the government’s commitment to the transformation of the Nigerian Police for effective service delivery.  

The NEC is the major economic body chaired by the vice president. Governors, ministers of National Planning, Finance, FCT and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor are members. The body meets monthly at the State House in Abuja.