Buhari approves bumper pay for policemen

President
Muhammadu Buhari has approved an enhanced salary structure for the
Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and given assurance that his administration
will continue paying attention to the welfare and operational needs of
the force.

President Buhari with police chiefs

Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba
Shehu, in a statement on Monday, said the president confirmed the
approval in the State House, Abuja.

The president spoke when he played host to the members of the Nigeria
Police Service Commission and the leadership of the force who were on a
“thank you” visit to him.

By the president’s approval of the Rank Salary Structure Adjustment,
salaries, allowances and pension of policemen will be increased.

Buhari expressed the commitment of his administration to restoring
the NPF lost primacy in the internal security framework of the country.

He regretted that the inability of the police in performing their
constitutional role as the frontline force in the prevention of crime,
had led to military involvement in the maintenance of law and order
throughout the country.

“From Taraba to Sokoto, to the South-South, people don’t feel secure until they see the military.

“I am pleased to make the increase in salary and allowances in the
hope that it will increase the performance index of the police and
strengthen Nigeria’s internal security system,” he said.

According to him, the more efficient the police is, the more confident the government and citizens will be.

He said: “The military should be reserved for higher tasks. The
police should be able to cope well with the challenges of armed robbery,
kidnapping for ransom and such crimes.

“In every town and village, there is the presence of the police. From
all these places, they should be able to forward first class
intelligence to you on which to act.”

The president said there was need to amplify the question of more men
of the police, given the condition the country was currently in.

He listed the current challenges facing the nation as emergency in
the North-East and pervasive insecurity and abduction for ransom and
banditry in many parts of the country.

“I congratulate you on the success you recorded against criminals
taxing people and stopping them from their farms. We are expecting more
from you,” the president told the police leadership.

Mr Musiliu Smith, Chairman, Police Service Commission, represented by
Justice Clara Ogunbiyi (rtd), had informed the president that the rank
salary structure adjustment would enhance police welfare and morale.

The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, also gave the
assurance that the police would redouble efforts to ensure free, fair
and credible elections throughout the country next year