President Muhammadu Buhari

BREAKING: Buhari increases salary of Nigerian Police Force

NEWS DIGEST – President Muhammadu Buhari has approved Enhanced Salary Structure for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The president made the declaration after meeting with members of the Police Service Commission (PSC) on Monday, November 26, at the State House, Abuja.

President Buhari met with the board of PSC, led by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

In a series of tweets by Garba Shehu, the SSA on media and publicity, President Buhari assured that his administration will continue to give attention to the welfare and operational needs of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) with a view to restoring its lost primacy in the internal security framework of the country.

The president stated this during an audience with members of the Nigeria Police Service Commission and the leadership of Police on a “Thank You” visit following his approval of Rank Salary Structure Adjustment, by which salary, allowances and pension of policemen will be increased.

President Buhari regretted that the inability of the police in 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.

According to the president: “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.”

President Buhari observed that the more efficient the police is, the more confident the government and citizens will be.

According to him: “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,” the president told the police.

Justice Clara Ogunbiyi (rtd), a full-time commissioner in the Nigeria Police Service Commission, who represented the chairman, Musiliu Smith, had informed the president that the Rank Salary Structure Adjustment would enhance police welfare and morale.

The 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.