Economic Hardship and Police Protest: Unpaid Salaries for 11 Months in Nigeria
In a striking demonstration of economic and social discontent, a group of police officers in Nigeria has taken to the streets to protest the non-payment of their salaries for nearly a year. This unrest is centered in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, where officers under the banner of the Concerned Police Inspectors in Nigeria (CPIN) have voiced their frustrations over unpaid wages and what they perceive as a disregard for their welfare.
On a recent day, a sizeable contingent of police officers, numbering over 1,500 and promoted from Inspector II to Inspector I, marched peacefully to the Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Uyo. This demonstration was not only a display of their dissatisfaction but also a desperate appeal for intervention.
The officers, who have been facing severe financial strain, are demanding immediate action from the highest levels of the Nigerian police force. Their leader, who chose to remain anonymous, articulated their disillusionment, stating, “Our crime-fighting morale has been dampened by the lack of commitment to our welfare by the police authorities.”
These officers, despite their promotion to higher ranks effective September 10, 2023, have continued to receive salaries based on their former positions. This discrepancy has been ongoing since March 21, 2024, leaving them with a significant shortfall in their expected income. The financial gap, reportedly exceeding N550,000 per officer, has led to severe economic hardship for the personnel and their families.
In a letter addressed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, the officers expressed their dire situation. They described their predicament as a form of “inhuman treatment,” emphasizing that the prolonged delay in salary payments has left them unable to meet basic needs such as feeding their families and paying essential bills.
The officers’ grievances have not only been communicated to the IGP but also to the Presidency, the National Assembly, and the Police Service Commission (PSC). Their appeal outlines the critical need for federal government intervention to resolve the issue and address the economic challenges they face. They argue that the failure to disburse their rightful salaries is exacerbating their hardship and undermining their ability to perform their duties effectively.
This protest highlights a broader issue of economic instability and its impact on public service personnel in Nigeria. The delay in salary payments underscores systemic challenges within the country’s financial management and administrative systems. For the officers, the situation is a stark reminder of their vulnerability and the precarious nature of their economic stability despite their significant roles in maintaining law and order.
The ongoing protest by the Concerned Police Inspectors in Nigeria serves as a critical reminder of the intersection between economic hardship and public service. As these officers await resolution to their salary issues, their plight sheds light on the urgent need for systemic reforms to ensure timely and fair compens
Original article:
Economic Hardship : Angry Police Officers Protest Unpaid Salaries For 11 Months | #Politicsnigeria A group of police officers under the banner of the Concerned Police Inspectors in Nigeria (CPIN) staged a peaceful protest in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, over the non-payment of 11 months’ salary arrears. The officers marched to the Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to express their grievances. The leader of the delegation, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “Our crime-fighting morale has been dampened by the lack of commitment to our welfare by the police authorities.” The officers, who were promoted from Inspector II to Inspector I, amount to over 1,500 personnel from various police formations across the state. They called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene and ensure the payment of their salary arrears, which they say is crucial for their survival in the face of the current harsh economic conditions in the country. Copies of their appeal were also sent to the Presidency, the National Assembly, and the Police Service Commission (PSC). The letter, addressed to the IGP, reads in part: “We are over 1,500 personnel of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Akwa Ibom Command, promoted from Inspector II to Inspector I, by the IGP effective from September 10, 2023, with a signal dated March 21, 2024. “Till date, we are still collecting old salaries as junior Inspectors instead of senior Inspectors since the IGP gave us the confirmation letters. So, we have nowhere to run to than to the federal government which is our employer.” The officers expressed their discomfort with what they described as “inhuman treatment” by the IGP. They pointed out that after many years of service, they are being denied their entitlements. “We can no longer feed our families or pay their bills due to the high cost of essential items in the market. “It’s difficult to believe that after being celebrated with our families for being elevated to another level, the IGP is deliberately short-paying us for 11 months now, and by calculation, the shortfall is over N550,000 each,” they lamented. The protesting officers urged the IGP to address their concerns promptly, stressing that the delay in payment is causing significant hardship for them and their families. They also called on the federal government to intervene and ensure that they receive their due .
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