“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.”
Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, approved Rank Salary Structure Adjustment, by which salary, allowances and pension of policemen will be increased.
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This is even as he expressed regret over involvement of military in the maintenance of law and order throughout the country following what he called the inability of the police to maintain their constitutional role as the frontline force in the prevention of crime.
Buhari stated this when he met with the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and members of the Police Service Commission (PSC) over the welfare of the police, at the State House Villa.
The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement said Buhari said during the audience with members of the PSC and the leadership of the Nigeria Police who were on a “Thank You” visit following his approval of Rank Salary Structure Adjustment, quoted the president as saying: “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 observed that the more efficient the police is, the more confident the government and citizens will be.
“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.
“There is a need to amplify the question of more men of the police, especially given the condition we are in – emergency in the North-East, 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,” he said.
Full-time Commissioner in the Nigeria Police Service Commission, Justice Clara Ogunbiyi (retd), who represented the chairman, Musiliu Smith, had informed the president that the Rank Salary Structure adjustment would enhance police welfare and morale.
Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris also assured that the police would redouble efforts to ensure free, fair and credible elections throughout the country next year.
