FG to implement new salary scale for police officers soon ― Minister

Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, on Tuesday, said that the implementation of the new salary scale promised the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) by President Muhammadu Buhari would soon commence following the submission of a proposal to the Federal Government by the Salaries and National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.

Dingyadi disclosed this in Abuja when he appeared before the Joint National Assembly Committee on Police Affairs led by Senator Haliru Jika (Senate) and Hon Usman Kumo (House of Representatives) for the 2022 budget defence of the Ministry

According to him, “in recognition of the take-home pay of the police personnel which necessitated the need to motivate them for better performance, Mr President directed the Salary and Wages Commission to work out a new salary package for the Nigerian Police and submit to the government for consideration.

“In keeping with this directive, the commission in consultation with the relevant stakeholders have submitted a proposal to the government which is being given the desired and urgent attention.”

Dingyadi also said the plans were in progress on how to exit the Police from Contributory Pension Scheme as being agitated in some quarters.

He said the year under review started in the midst of challenges such as the effect of EndSARS protests, and COVID-19, which “inflicted serious social, moral, economic and security setbacks for the police.”

He lamented that the situation was further compounded by the myriad of security challenges such as terrorism, armed banditry, kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery and secessionist agitations cutting across all the six geopolitical zones of the country.

However, he stated despite the challenges the Ministry of Police Affairs had remained focused and extended all necessary requests of support to the Nigeria Police in the fight against the challenges

Among the successes of the Ministry, he said, was the implementation of a community policing programme, which saw training and deployment of 25,000 special constabularies to their local government areas of origin to aid policing.

Also, Commandant, Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano, AIG Lawan Jimeta, who appeared before the joint committee lamented manpower shortages in both the academic and administrative wings of the academy.

According to him, “the academy is grossly understaffed as many academic programmes are being run without adequate lecturers. Also, the administration and other operations are also in dire need of manpower. Efforts to get employment waivers from the head of the service of the federation is yet to yield desired results.”

He said the academy had a cadet strength presently of over 3,300 cadets and they were expected to be provided with qualitative education, conducive accommodation, three meals a day and combat training facilities among others.

Both chairmen of the committee assured of adequate findings for the force in the next fiscal year for the optimal performance of the force in view of the increasing security challenges in the country.

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