Some officers within the Nigeria Police Force have expressed worries over the late implementation, as well as a cut in their new allowances which were promised by the Federal government.
Our correspondent learnt that the new allowance for the Police that were announced by the government last year had taken effect, but did not measure up to what was promised.
Meanwhile, quite a number of police officers have resorted to different means to survive, as they complained that their take-home pay no longer sustains them.
Major General Muhammadu Buhari Federal Executive Council held on December 15, 2021, approved what was described as “peculiar allowance” for the police to commence from January 2022.
The Police Affairs Minister, Maigari Dingyadi, told journalists after the meeting that the allowance would increase police personnel’s take-home pay by 20% of their present earnings. He said the salary increase was part of efforts by the Muhammadu Buhari regime to meet the demands of the #EndSARS protesters.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP, USman Baba, during his visit to the Lagos State Police Command on March 23, also assured that the salary increment would soon go into effect.
He said relevant government agencies, including the National Salaries and Income and Wages Commission; the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation; and the Ministry of Police Affairs, had reached the final stages of computation of emolument details for all personnel of the Force.
Read Also : ASUU welcomes govs’ intervention, wants sincerity.
Although, the new salary structure was initially delayed due to the inability to update it in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, the police authorities as a result, cited insufficient funds on the police cost line.
This was contained in a document seen by our correspondent and titled, “Salary Arrangement and Non-Implementation of Upgrade of Newly Promoted Officers and Addressed to Officers across Police Formations.”
The document, which was dated June 22, 2022, and disseminated through the police wireless message, stated that the upgrade would affect the payment of salaries if implemented.
The document read, “Salary arrangement and non-implementation of upgrades for newly promoted officers.
“According to information received on June 22, 2022, from the PAB office in Abuja, there is insufficient funding on the police personnel cost line, and if personnel promoted are upgraded to their next grade levels and steps, the police authority will be unable to pay salary.”
“The document, which was signed by the office of the Chief Financial Officer, Force Headquarters, however, indicated that the authority is making frantic efforts to ensure police personnel costs are augmented to absorb the cost implications of upgrading newly promoted officers.”
The Chief Financial Officer, Rivers State Police Command, Hyacinth Okolo, who signed the document, confirmed to our correspondent that it emanated from his office. Okolo, who did not grant our correspondent much audience, promised to return the call but had yet to do so. Efforts to reach him afterwards were futile.
However, the hopes of the police officers were dashed as the promise was eventually fulfilled but not up to what they expected.
Our correspondent learnt that the allowance reflected in the salary that was paid in the month of August, but the calculation was below the 20% as promised. It was also learnt that the officers received their July and August arrears, while the subsisting ones between the month of January and June still remain unpaid.
In a new document obtained by our correspondent, and titled: “Implementation of reviewed consolidated police salary structure”, the police confirmed the approval of the new allowance had commenced.
The document reads, “Be informed that IPPIS Unit of OAGF has commenced the application of reviewed allowances in the payment of police salaries with effect from July 2022. A month component has been paid as supplementary salary (One month differential between the old and the reviewed composs) in July 2022. Personnel will start receiving alert of supplementary salary as from Friday 12/08/2022, while the remaining six months arrears (i.e January – June, 2022) will be paid subsequently. However, from August 2022, police salaries will be paid using the reviewed composs.”
Meanwhile, our correspondent learnt that the outstanding arrears had yet to be paid as of Wednesday August 31st.
Some police officers who spoke to our correspondent however expressed doubt over the promise.