A prominent anti-corruption group in Nigeria has called for an investigation into allegations of mismanagement and corruption within the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF).
The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) said in a petition to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, that it was deeply concerned about recent reports of financial misconduct and misadministration within the NPTF.
The petition, dated August 21, 2023, said that the reports, which were published by the Nation news online platform, detailed serious allegations of mishandling of funds designated for the Nigeria Police Force.
HEDA said that the trustees and administrators of the NPTF had operated without accountability, neglecting their duty to provide necessary funding, modern equipment, training, and welfare support for police personnel.
The group said that the alleged mismanagement was particularly concerning given the ongoing security challenges facing Nigeria.
The NPTF is a public-private partnership fund that was established in 2019 to provide financial support for the Nigeria Police Force. The fund is financed by a combination of government revenue and private sector contributions.
HEDA said that it had previously filed complaints about the alleged mismanagement of the NPTF with both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The group called on the NSA to initiate a thorough investigation into the allegations, prosecute those found guilty of corrupt practices, and recommend a restructuring of the NPTF’s leadership.
HEDA also urged the NSA to advise President Bola Tinubu to consider disbanding the current trustees and administrators of the NPTF and appointing new leadership to ensure that the body effectively fulfills its statutory function.
The petition concluded with a plea for prompt action, underlining the urgency of addressing these allegations to safeguard the Nigeria Police Force’s proper functioning and the nation’s overall security.
