Inspector-General of Police IGP, Usman Baba, has urged police officers to pray so that the new salaries structure for policemen be paid at the end of the month.
While delivering a lecture at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, the IGP suggested that prayers by police officers may fast track the implementation of the new salary structure by March ending.
“He also informed members that the new salary may be paid at the end of this month, (March 22) everyone should exercise patience and pray,” partly reads the document titled “Outcome of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) lecture”.
This is coming amid reports of a planned protest and strike by junior officers of the force, scheduled for March 26.
Although the acting force public relations officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, had debunked the report describing it as “fake news”, there are strong indications that the junior officers would embark on strike on the said date.
The officers listed unpaid emoluments, outdated weapons, poor working conditions among other reasons for the planned protest.
In a desperately veiled attempt to placate the disgruntled officers and quell strike agitations, IGP offered to waive tax for all serving officers effective April 2022.
“The Inspector General of Police in his magnanimity has also ensured that all serving personnel be exempted from the payment of tax, with effect from April 2022,” reads the outcome of the IGP’s lecture.
Similarly, the IGP assured officers he was “working tirelessly” to ensure that ,”both serving and retired members of the Force are removed from the contributory pension scheme.”
Despite these promises, the new salary structure remains a huge probability with the IGP asking officers to pray for its implementation.
Meanwhile, comparing the disparities in salary structure between police and EFCC operatives, policemen has signalled their resolve to commence strike on March 26, People’s Gazette reports.
The protest tagged “We are tired of negligence” is scheduled to be held at the Eagles Square in Abuja to reiterate their demands to the federal government.
In a document referenced 4001/AJR/NPF/ABJ/VOL 7/188 addressed to the Inspector General of Police Usman Alkali Baba, the aggrieved officers asserted that “strike is the only language Nigerian government understand(s).”
According to the the document, all junior ranking officers have been banned from their duty posts including those attached to politicians on and from the said date.
Among their grouses are “poor salary/welfare, non-issuer of kits/accoutrements, non-payment of duty tour allowances, non-payment of course allowances, poor barracks accommodation, non-promotion as at when due”, as seen in the strike memo.
The protesting officers compared their salary structure with that of their counterparts at the anti-graft agency, EFCC where a level 03 officer earned N280,000 monthly, while a police constable on the same level earned a measly N45,700 barely above the minimum wage.
An EFCC operative on grade level 08 “will smile home with over N490,000 every month,” while a police inspector on the same level earned only N109,200, the document highlighted.
The aggrieved officers demanded that the government should publish the differences between the salaries of both security outfits.
Tax waiver, pension exemption, immediate renovation of all barracks, IPPIS mode of payment remained top on the list of their demands to the government.
Addressing Musiliu Smith, who chairs the Police Service Commission (PSC), the officers asked that personnel promoted since 2015 should be advanced to their next rank.
The IGP has also been asked to “immediately commence the distribution” of two pairs of uniforms to all junior ranking officers of the force.
“No police, no democracy, 26/03/22 is the date, Eagles Square is the venue” reads the concluding part of the document addressed to key figures in the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
