0.5% Federal Allocation Deduction For Police Fund Unconstitutional — PDP Governors

The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDPGF) has
observed that the deduction of 0.5% out of the total revenue
accruing to the Federation Account for the benefit of the Nigeria
Police Trust Fund is unconstitutional.

It has, therefore, urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the
National Assembly to take steps to repeal Section 4(1) of the
Nigeria Police Trust Fund (Establishment) Act, 2019 which
purportedly authorizes the Federal government to make the
deduction.

The governors made the declaration in a communique issued at the
end of a Zoom Meeting of the forum and signed by their Chairman and
Governors of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal.

The communique was made available to the media in Abuja on
Wednesday.

The governors also showed concern over the Water Resources Bill,
2020, calling for its stepping down its consideration in the House
of Representatives to allows for more consultations and public
engagement.

The Forum disclosed that on its part, it has referred the Water
Resource Bill to the bodies of Attorney Generals of PDP State
governments for advice.

It observed the discrepancies in S.12(2) and S.12(4) of the Act
on the appropriate authority with responsibility to deploy Police
Commissioners to the respective States

The communiqué read in part: “The meeting noted the signing of
the New Nigeria Police Act, 2020 by Mr President, Commander in
Chief.

“While acknowledging the many important innovations in the new
law, the Forum emphasised the need to make the Nigeria Police
Council, which has Mr President as Chairman and 36 state Governors
as members, fully operational and the clearinghouse on all issues
bordering on the organisation and administration of the Nigeria
Police Force as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

“The Forum further observed the discrepancies in S.12(2) and
S.12(4) of the Act on the appropriate authority with responsibility
to deploy Police Commissioners to the respective States. “Whereas
S.12(2) gives the responsibility to the Police Service Commission,
S. 12(4) gives either the Police Service Commission or
Inspector-General of Police the same responsibility.

“This is even more regrettable as the Constitution gives this
responsibility to the Police Service Commission (S. 215)(1)(b). We
advise that the constitutional provision be upheld.

“Furthermore, the Forum canvassed for appropriate consultations
with the Governors of various States on the deployment of Police
Commissioners to the States since the Police is a common
institution that executes the laws of both the Federal and State
governments.

“The Forum implored Mr President and the National Assembly to
repeal Section 4(1) of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund
(Establishment) Act, 2019 which purports to authorise the President
to deduct 0.5% of the total revenue accruing to the Federation
Account for the benefit of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, as it is
patently unconstitutional. “The beneficiaries of the Federation
Account are the Federal, States and Local Governments ONLY. More
creative funding options should be explored.

“The Forum noted the controversy surrounding the Water Resources
Bill, 2020 and noted the stepping down of the Bill in the House of
Representatives. It urged for further consultations and public
engagement in the processing of the Bill.

“The Forum referred the Bill to the bodies of Attorney Generals
of PDP State governments for advice.

“Finally, the Forum congratulated Nigeria @ 60 and enjoined the
government and the people of Nigeria to redouble efforts on
national unity, national cohesion, economic, social and political
integration and progress in the years ahead.”

In attendance at the meeting were Governors Aminu Tambuwal
(Sokoto), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia State), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom
State),

Senator Bala Muhammad (Bauchi State); Douye Diri (Bayelsa
State); Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta State); Dave Umahi (Ebonyi State);
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu State); Nyesom Wike (Rivers State); Oluseyi
Abiodun Makinde (Oyo State) and Bello Muhammad Matawalle (Zamfara
State).

The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDPGF) has
observed that the deduction of 0.5% out of the total revenue
accruing to the Federation Account for the benefit of the Nigeria
Police Trust Fund is unconstitutional.

It has, therefore, urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the
National Assembly to take steps to repeal Section 4(1) of the
Nigeria Police Trust Fund (Establishment) Act, 2019 which
purportedly authorizes the Federal government to make the
deduction.

The governors made the declaration in a communique issued at the
end of a Zoom Meeting of the forum and signed by their Chairman and
Governors of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal.

The communique was made available to the media in Abuja on
Wednesday.

The governors also showed concern over the Water Resources Bill,
2020, calling for its stepping down its consideration in the House
of Representatives to allows for more consultations and public
engagement.

The Forum disclosed that on its part, it has referred the Water
Resource Bill to the bodies of Attorney Generals of PDP State
governments for advice.

It observed the discrepancies in S.12(2) and S.12(4) of the Act
on the appropriate authority with responsibility to deploy Police
Commissioners to the respective States

The communiqué read in part: “The meeting noted the signing of
the New Nigeria Police Act, 2020 by Mr President, Commander in
Chief.

“While acknowledging the many important innovations in the new
law, the Forum emphasised the need to make the Nigeria Police
Council, which has Mr President as Chairman and 36 state Governors
as members, fully operational and the clearinghouse on all issues
bordering on the organisation and administration of the Nigeria
Police Force as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

“The Forum further observed the discrepancies in S.12(2) and
S.12(4) of the Act on the appropriate authority with responsibility
to deploy Police Commissioners to the respective States. “Whereas
S.12(2) gives the responsibility to the Police Service Commission,
S. 12(4) gives either the Police Service Commission or
Inspector-General of Police the same responsibility.

“This is even more regrettable as the Constitution gives this
responsibility to the Police Service Commission (S. 215)(1)(b). We
advise that the constitutional provision be upheld.

“Furthermore, the Forum canvassed for appropriate consultations
with the Governors of various States on the deployment of Police
Commissioners to the States since the Police is a common
institution that executes the laws of both the Federal and State
governments.

“The Forum implored Mr President and the National Assembly to
repeal Section 4(1) of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund
(Establishment) Act, 2019 which purports to authorise the President
to deduct 0.5% of the total revenue accruing to the Federation
Account for the benefit of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, as it is
patently unconstitutional. “The beneficiaries of the Federation
Account are the Federal, States and Local Governments ONLY. More
creative funding options should be explored.

“The Forum noted the controversy surrounding the Water Resources
Bill, 2020 and noted the stepping down of the Bill in the House of
Representatives. It urged for further consultations and public
engagement in the processing of the Bill.

“The Forum referred the Bill to the bodies of Attorney Generals
of PDP State governments for advice.

“Finally, the Forum congratulated Nigeria @ 60 and enjoined the
government and the people of Nigeria to redouble efforts on
national unity, national cohesion, economic, social and political
integration and progress in the years ahead.”

In attendance at the meeting were Governors Aminu Tambuwal
(Sokoto), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia State), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom
State),

Senator Bala Muhammad (Bauchi State); Douye Diri (Bayelsa
State); Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta State); Dave Umahi (Ebonyi State);
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu State); Nyesom Wike (Rivers State); Oluseyi
Abiodun Makinde (Oyo State) and Bello Muhammad Matawalle (Zamfara
State).