Stop N5,500 deduction from our salaries, policemen tell IG

Posted by admin Latest Politics, Nigerian Police Friday, August 9th, 2013

Some policemen have urged the Police Headquarters to stop an alleged illegal deduction from their monthly salaries.

The call came barely 24 hours after the police authorities announced the dismissal of a police sergeant, Chris Omeleze, having been caught on video demanding a bribe of N25,000 from a motorist in Lagos.

The policemen who have since bombarded the official Facebook page of the police said the dismissal of the police sergeant was a welcome development but urged the police authorities to do everything within its powers to make the job of policing easy for them.

According to them, the recent deductions of N5,500 from their “meagre’’ salaries is counter-productive as it leaves them with less money to cater for their wellbeing and that of their family members.

They argued that the deductions could lure some of them to resorting to sharp practices such as bribery which, they said, did not augur well for the image of the police force.

Some distraught policemen said there is injustice in a situation where a corrupt officer is dismissed while ‘the ogas at the top’ make deductions from their salaries without their consent.

One Hajiyaro Maisamari, who was seen in a police mobile force uniform on his Facebook profile, said, “It is only God that will help the rank and file. My N5,500 got missing from my salary. What will I do?’’

One Ekwere Nkakang also noted on Facebook that sanctioning policemen found culpaple in acts of corruption without a stop to the deductions from their salaries amounted to double standard on the part of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Muhammed Abubakar.

Nkakang noted, “The IGP promised a better welfare package, instead of that he forcefully deducted N5,500 from July salary and he is still ready to deduct same from our August salary.

“Never in the history of Nigeria Police has anyone tampered with personnel’s main salary. This is the first time without any reason; then, he is talking about zero corruption in the Nigeria Police Force. Who is fooling who?’’

Also, Lasisi Mufutau, who, according to the information on his Facebook profile, is a detective attached to the NPF in Edo State, said the dismissal of the police sergeant came to him as a welcome development. He said, “I want to thank our modern IG for redeeming the bartered image of the police. However, I want the PPRO to also comment on the forceful deduction of ranks and files’ salary without their consent.’’

Samuel McCoy-Ogala lamented that the deductions was giving him a headache because he learnt that the process could be a continuous one.

McCoy Ogala stated, “This (the dismissal) is good and is coming at the appropriate time. But what of the ongoing salary deduction of the serving members of the Nigeria Police Force? Explicit explanation is expected to clear the rumours going on that the said deduction is a continuous process.’’

An angry Peter Akpala also wrote, “You (IGP) have no justification to fight corruption. Taking somebody’s N5,500 without his consent is an act of corruption. You should return our money.’’

Meanwhile, a cross-section of Nigerians have expressed happiness at the way and manner the IG moved swiftly to give orderly room trial on Omeleze. They said it indicated that police extortion abound in various communities and urged him to expose them via the appropriate new media channels being used by the police.

But one Ime Sampson however said that his complaints to Nigeria Police Force email address; — policemonitor@npf.gov.ng — which the police provided on its Facebook page, was unattended to. He argued that the speedy response to the latest incident was because the video went viral on the Internet.

He said, “I’m really sorry to say but somehow we do not trust the police any longer. I’ve sent a complaint to the e-mail address and never received a response. I actually quoted the officer’s name and nothing was done about it. Not even an acknowledgement.

“How then will I waste my time to write another petition again against an officer? The only reason this action is being taken is just because the video has gone viral. The police authorities are not sincere in their fight against corrupt practices and this is just eye service and playing to the gallery. Until the secret petitions are acted upon, the public will not have any confidence in the police force, and this is the truth.’’

Attempts to speak with the Acting Force Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, proved futile as his telephone was switched off. Also, a text message sent to his telephone was not responded to as at press time.

-Punchwp_posts