“THERE WON’T BE STRIKE OVER POOR WELFARE” ~Police in Rivers assure
As the heat over the proposed two weeks warning strike by Police personnel across Nigeria, beginning from today, Saturday March 26, 2022 is yet to settle, Officers and Men of the Rivers State Police Command have assured the Inspector General of Police, USMAN ALKALI BABA that they would not join the industrial action.
The Police in Rivers State, who are drawn from different Area Commands and Divisions including Ahoada, Degema, ONELGA, Oyigbo, Eleme among others, also assured members of the public that they would not embark on the proposed strike.
They took turns to pledge their support and loyalty to the IGP, stressing that they are disciplined and regimented with a mandate to maintain law and order in the society.
They gave the assurance shortly after the Commissioner of Police in the State, CP EBOKA FRIDAY finished speaking while addressing them on the issue during an interactive session at the State Command’s Headquarters in Port Harcourt.
CP EBOKA FRIDAY had during the interactive session, charged members of the Inspectorate, Rank and File not to participate in the rumoured strike.
The Commissioner reminded the Officers how important their role to members of the public and the society at large.
The CP warned that any industrial action by any personnel would be considered as an act of mutiny and disobedience to lawful order and would come with its attendant consequences.
The CP assured the Officers and Men of the commitment of Inspector-General in improving their welfare.
He stressed that those insisting on going on with the strike are obviously not aware of the good policies and programmes of IGP ALKALI BABA.
Recall that some Police Officers (male & female) had two weeks ago notified the Police High Command of the intention to embark on an unprecedented two-week strike over salary and outdated weapons on Saturday March 26 2022.
The morale of police Officers is said to be at a low ebb, with many grumbling about poor salaries, lack of genuine welfare benefits and outdated weapons.
They are also unhappy with the continuous killing of their colleagues by armed robbers and terrorists, without adequate compensation for their families.
Brave Views gathered that in the letter to the authorities, the representatives of the aggrieved Police Officers demanded improved conditions of service, particularly salary increase and provision of modern weapons as they tackle the security challenges facing the country.
The letter reads in parts:
“The Nigeria government lied about the increment of Police salary on March 10, 2022. It has been observed with utmost dissatisfaction how the Federal Government and the Minister of Police Affairs lied to the general public about the increment of our salaries.
“It has always been discussed on every occasion that the increment would be done since the incident of the #EndSARS protest that led to the loss of many lives of the men of the force.
“More so, it has been observed by the men of the force that there’s nothing good the Federal Government would do for the Police, because they had already made an announcement that they’ve increased our salary which is not true.
“With the lackadaisical attitude of the government and the Ministry of Police Affairs, it shows that there was nothing like a salary increment”.
The aggrieved Police Officers Brave Views can report, insisted they deserve to be treated with respect by the government as they protect almost every political personality in Nigeria.