Some aggrieved Nigeria police officers have insisted they will embark on the planned industrial actions despite pleas from Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba.
The junior police officers said the strike would commence on March 26, the same day chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) would gather in Abuja for their national convention. The junior cops have written a letter to the IGP stating that they will not receive any salary less than 100,000 naira per month.
In the letter, the officers also revealed that Level 3 officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reportedly receives N280,000 monthly, while a constable receives just N45,700 per month.
Also, they said that a Level 8 officer of the EFCC goes home with over N490,000 every month, but an Inspector of police, with many years of experience, is being paid N109,200 as monthly salary.
They are of the opinion that they are being underpaid whilst defending people and sacrificing their own lives.
They said the planned strike is inevitable considering that the management haven’t shown any sign to act on their demands.
“lackadaisical attitude of the police authorities in representing us before the Federal Government.”
“Sir, are you aware of the suffering your officers are exposed to? Many of us can’t afford 3-square meals per day. Some can’t send their children to school without bribes. Go to the barracks, you will see the slums where those officers that escort you around sleep.
“Sir, the least constable, who pays house rent, electricity bills, feeds himself and his family still earns about N47,000 in a month. Tell me how such a constable will not extort members of the public?
The officers submitted that they are fully aware of the consequences of going against the superiors in the force saying it’s tantamount to mutiny, they however said that there is nothing they can do as regards that, saying their leaders can’t be trusted and admitting they have been pushed to the wall.
“We know how much the Senators, House of Representatives members, governors and others we protect day and night earn monthly, yet we don’t misbehave; but don’t forget that a hungry man is an angry man,” the letter signed anonymously by concerned police officers read in part.
Speaking further, the aggrieved officers said they would embark on the purported strike, “if constables earn less than N100,000 monthly; if we continue to buy kits for ourselves; if our promotions are delayed without reason while you give those that serve in IGP SEC special promotions; if our men continue to die without compensation for their families; if the federal government continues to expose our men to danger by not providing weapons to combat crime.”
” Some can’t send their children to school without bribes. Go to the barracks, you will see the slums where those officers that escort you around sleep.
“Sir, the least constable, who pays house rent, electricity bills, feeds himself and his family still earns about N47,000 in a month. Tell me how such a constable will not extort members of the public?
“We know how much the Senators, House of Representatives members, governors and others we protect day and night earn monthly, yet we don’t misbehave; but don’t forget that a hungry man is an angry man,”
“Sir, are you aware of the suffering your officers are exposed to? Many of us can’t afford 3-square meals per day. Some can’t send their children to school without bribes. Go to the barracks, you will see the slums where those officers that escort you around sleep.
It was gathered that the open letter was unanimously writtenand signed by concerned junior police officers.
