Officers Decry Non-Payment Of Approved N40,000 Increment; Threaten Nationwide Strike on October 1
Police constables and corporals serving under the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command in Abuja have expressed frustration over being denied the “N40,000 increment approved by the Nigerian government” for all federal workers.
The affected officers have threatened to commence a strike from Tuesday, October 1, 2024, if the issue is not resolved and they are not paid the complete approved increment.
As reported by SaharaReporters, several police personnel revealed that while officers in other state commands have been receiving a monthly salary increment of N40,000, those in the FCT and Niger State commands have only been paid N10,000. This disparity, they claim, has been ongoing since the implementation of the salary review in January 2024.
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One of the officers who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “We all know about the increment that was implemented, and several agencies were paid a flat rate of N40,000. However, commands like Niger State and FCT are only paying N10,000, which is a gross injustice.
We are abiding by our code of conduct and cannot voice out our frustrations openly, but we need urgent intervention from the police authorities.”
The constables expressed dismay that despite the Federal Government’s directive, the FCT command has continued to shortchange them. “If other agencies can pay N40,000 irrespective of rank, then there is no reason why the Nigeria Police Force, which we consider the mother of all forces, would retain N30,000 and pay N10,000 to constables as if we are beggars,” one officer lamented.
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The officers further highlighted another grievance related to an additional N1,000 increment, which, according to them, has been paid to their counterparts in other states but not to those in the FCT command.
“Our colleagues in other state commands have been receiving an additional N1,000 on their salaries since January this year, but here in the FCT command, it has been the same amount since we passed out till date,” another officer said.
Several officers voiced their frustration, noting that the current N77,000 salary is insufficient to meet basic living needs. “Some of us have parents and dependents. N77,000 cannot even buy a bag of rice. We are humans just like those in other government agencies.
If nothing is done about this shortchanging, we constables have agreed to go on a nationwide strike on October 1 because we can’t continue to suffer in silence,” an officer said.
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The officers called on President Bola Tinubu and other relevant authorities to intervene and ensure that they receive their rightful pay. They emphasized that the strike is not just about the money but also about fairness and the principle of equal treatment.
When SaharaReporters contacted the FCT Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, she directed inquiries to the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi. However, Adejobi did not respond to calls or messages as of the time of filing this report.
The impending strike, if not averted, could severely impact policing and security operations in the FCT and other regions, raising concerns over the potential disruption of law enforcement services and public safety.
The aggrieved officers are urging for immediate intervention to resolve the salary issues and prevent the planned industrial action.