2023 General Election; Non-payment of 6 months’ Salaries/Arrears as police threatened to boycott the 2023 general election

….CD/HURIDE To Show Solidarity

Nigeria’s general election in which the president and political office holders will be elected in February 2023 and March this year’s general elections is under threat.

Members of the Nigerian Police are allegedly threatening to boycott the all-important election following 6 months’ arrears of salary owed them.

A competent source close to us said the Federal Government and Police authority are owing Police officers from the rank of confirmed Inspector of Police about 6 months’ arrears of salary.

Consequently, the source said, they have decided to embark on strike during the 2023 general election, although the Federal Government has been resisting their decision.

But the CD/HURIDE, Human Rights, Liberty Access and Peace Defenders’Foundation (HURIDE) and Campaign for Democracy (CD) South-East zone have condemned the six months’ arrears of salary owed to the police officers and promised to join to support the officers until their salaries were fully paid

In a statement in Abuja after their strategic meeting, the group asked the Federal Government and Police authority to pay the officers their arrears of salary with immediate effect, saying that by owing them salaries, the Federal Government is subtly encouraging corruption within the rank and file of the Nigerian Police and vow to support them until necessary were done

CD/HURIDE in the statement digits its Campaign and Publicity Secretary, Mazi Daniel Okeke queried the Police for confining their pension with the country’s pension authority, which they said does not protect the interest of officers and men of the Nigerian Police.

The rights group contended that if other security outfits in the country like the Nigerian Army, Directorate of State Services (DSS) National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and others have thrown pension bodies, why should the Nigerian Police be left to languish with the pension body which does not help their matters.

Said the CD/HURIDE ” the Federal Government and Police authority should commence the payment of their Police officers with immediate effect”.

They also demanded an immediate increase in the minimum wage of police personnel, saying that apart from owing them arrears of salary, the current take home is not anything to write home about and should be increased to N100.000 as a minimum pay month, the group advised.
1st February 2023