The National Economic Council, NEC, has approved a recommendation that one per cent of monthly allocations meant for states be deducted and used to fund the Nigerian Police Force.
The deducted fund, which is an addition to the regular police allocation, will be exclusively used to fund the police in the respective states.
The Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi disclosed this while briefing journalists after the NEC meeting.
Mr. Obi, as Chairman of the Nigeria Reform Police Interim Implementation Committee, had earlier presented the Council with a memorandum on the funding of the Police Reform Programme.
“The money will be domiciled and used in the state where it is deducted and this is an extra from what the state will contribute to the funding of police,” he said.
The Committee had 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 memo had also recommended a joint funding of the revised cost of N1.5 trillion with 60 per cent coming from the three tiers of government while the Organised Private Sector and international development partners contribute 40 percent.
The Council welcomed the proposals and also threw its weight behind the recommendations for a statutory funding of the Police Reform Programme in line with the provisions of the constitution.
The modalities for the deduction would be worked out.