More than 15,000 police officers have threatened to either
go on strike or disrupt the March 28 and April 11 general elections.
go on strike or disrupt the March 28 and April 11 general elections.
They were made up of officers who were promoted from the
rank of sergeant to the rank of inspector and those promoted from the rank of
inspector to the rank of assistant superintendent of police in December 2013.
rank of sergeant to the rank of inspector and those promoted from the rank of
inspector to the rank of assistant superintendent of police in December 2013.
The policemen, according to seven of them who met with a
Punch correspondent in Abuja on Tuesday, said that they were promoted since
December 2013, but that the police authorities had refused to pay them their
new salaries.
Punch correspondent in Abuja on Tuesday, said that they were promoted since
December 2013, but that the police authorities had refused to pay them their
new salaries.
They said that after waiting for the police authorities for
over a year, they were surprised that they were paid their new salaries with
the January 2015 salaries, wondering why the money meant for the 13 month was
not included.
over a year, they were surprised that they were paid their new salaries with
the January 2015 salaries, wondering why the money meant for the 13 month was
not included.
One of them said, “We were promoted in December 2013 and the
letters which were given to us indicated that we were to enjoy the benefits
accruing to our new rank from the date of our promotion.
letters which were given to us indicated that we were to enjoy the benefits
accruing to our new rank from the date of our promotion.
“We waited to be paid throughout last year, which was 2014.
They didn’t pay us, saying that the money was not yet released.
They didn’t pay us, saying that the money was not yet released.
“In January this year, they paid us the new salary that was
commensurate with our new ranks. But they have refused to pay the areas for the
13 month.”
commensurate with our new ranks. But they have refused to pay the areas for the
13 month.”
Another officer, who is an ASP, said, “We know that there is
corruption in the Force, but how can someone sit on our 13th month salaries and
would expect us to keep quiet?
corruption in the Force, but how can someone sit on our 13th month salaries and
would expect us to keep quiet?
“Elections are coming. They said we should be neutral. How
can we be neutral when we are being shortchanged by our bosses and the country?
can we be neutral when we are being shortchanged by our bosses and the country?
“We want to be paid or else there would be crisis during the
elections. This is the time for us to shout so that Nigerians would know what
we are passing through.”
elections. This is the time for us to shout so that Nigerians would know what
we are passing through.”
When contacted by one of our correspondents, the Force
Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, said though he had not been
briefed about the issue, he nevertheless promised that their grievances would
be looked into and addressed.
Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, said though he had not been
briefed about the issue, he nevertheless promised that their grievances would
be looked into and addressed.
“I have not heard of the report, but we will look into their
grievances and address them,” he said.
grievances and address them,” he said.
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