Human Rights Organisations, Liberty NOW and NOSAD have charged the Federal Government to ensure that the Police Trust Fund, which Bill President Muhammadu Buhari had signed into law, is implemented.

While briefing journalists in Calabar, Cross River State, executive directors of NOSAD, Nneonyi Ofem and Liberty NOW, Innih Archibong, said the major purpose of establishing the trust fund for which the National Assembly approved N74.7 billion was to provide money for the training and welfare of personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.

“We propose an agenda of comprehensive retraining and reform for the police. One of the key components must be urgent teaching, practice and implementation of the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and Laws of Nigeria,” they said.

The groups demanded a healthy balance from the outset and throughout the lifespan of the fund between personnel training costs and capital cost, adding: “For a long time, the welfare of officers and men of the police force has been thrown to the dogs.”

They listed sources funding the Police Trust Fund to include 0.5 per cent of the total revenue accruing to the Federal Government account, a levy of 0.005 per cent of the net profit of companies operating businesses in Nigeria, take off grant and special intervention fund, as may be provided by the federal, state or local governments.