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Proposes Police Trust Fund overhaul
By Haruna Salami and Christina Ekpa
President Bola Tinubu has formally requested the Senate to confirm the appointment of Dr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The President’s request was contained in a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and read during Wednesday’s plenary session.
In the letter, President Tinubu stated: “In compliance with the provisions of Section 147, Subsection 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, I am pleased to forward to the Senate for confirmation the nomination of Muttaqha Rabe Darma (Ph.D.) as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He expressed hope for an expeditious consideration of the nominee. Senate President Akpabio subsequently referred the request to the Committee of the Whole for further action.
In a separate communication, the President sought the confirmation of Lamido Abubakar Yuguda as a Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Citing Section 8, Subsection 1 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007, the President urged the Senate to process the appointment with its usual efficiency.
Akpabio referred this nomination to the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and Other Financial Institutions, directing the committee to report back to the plenary within one week.
President Tinubu also transmitted a third letter to the National Assembly titled, “Transmission of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (Establishment) Act, 2025 Repeal and Re-Enactment.”
The President explained that the proposed repeal and re-enactment is imperative to reform the management and administration of the fund.
The move is designed to:
upport the continuous skill development of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), facilitate the procurement of modern security machinery, and boost the overall well-being of NPF personnel.
“The proposed repeal and re-enactment will significantly enhance the operational capacity, accountability, and sustainability of the NPTF in line with the present security imperatives of the nation,” the letter stated.
The President concluded by urging the House of Representatives and the Senate to consider the bill expeditiously to strengthen the nation’s security architecture.
