Reps to Consider Bill on Police Procurement Fund

Members of the House of Representatives will on resumption from their two-month yearly recess begin debate on the general principles of a bill, which seeks to establish the Police Procurement Fund according to The Guardian.

The private member bill sponsored by Obinna Chidoka, representing Idemili North/South Federal Constituency in Anambra State, seeks to provide adequate funding for the procurement of law enforcement equipment for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for effective protection of lives and property.

The bill scaled through its first reading before the House embarked on a two-month recess.

Clause One(a, b and c) provides that the Police Procurement Fund into which shall be paid such sums being one per cent deduction of monthly revenue allocations due to the federal, state and local governments; any other sums, from time to time, freely donated by other Governments, International Bodies, Non-Governmental Organisations, Private Sector or accruing to the Government and such sums as may be provided for the purpose of equipping the Police by the Federal Government.

Clause Two provides that the Fund shall be utilised for the procurement of body armour, ballistic vests, electronic surveillance equipment, armoured vehicles, helicopters, personal carriers, communication equipment, armaments and munitions and other law enforcement equipment; as well as renovations, training, welfare and enhancement of police performance.”

Clause Three of the bill provides for the establishment of the Police Procurement Fund Board, consisting of the President, 36 State Governors, Chairman, Police Service Commission; Inspector-General of Police; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning as well as Accountant General of the Federation.

Clause Three (2) further stipulates that the Board shall include the organisation, administration and disbursement of the Police Procurement Fund Force and the performance of other duties in fulfilment of the purposes of this bill.