The Nigeria Police Force has firmly denied allegations of a protest by its officers over unpaid promotion-related salary increases.
The force labeled the reports as inaccurate, emphasizing that salary matters are managed by the Federal Ministry of Finance, not the police.
It should be noted that on Thursday, police officers under the Concerned Police Inspectors in Nigeria visited the Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists on Asutan Street, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to protest against the non-payment of 11 months’ salary arrears.
In contrast, Police Public Relations Officer Ademuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Saturday, described the allegations as a deliberate effort to tarnish the reputation of the force.
It was titled, “Publication of Non-payment of Inspectors’ Salary, Alleged Protest Mischievous, Unfounded.
The officers, representing various police units and speaking anonymously on behalf of their peers, expressed frustration that their motivation to combat crime had been diminished due to the lack of concern for their welfare by police leadership.
They also highlighted that approximately 1,500 officers had been promoted from Inspector II to Inspector I and urged the Inspector General, Kayode Egbetokun, to expedite payment for the promoted officers to help alleviate the difficult socio-economic conditions affecting their families.
Nevertheless, Adejobi highlighted that there are organized and disciplined methods for resolving grievances, pointing out that the disbursement of salaries is handled by the IPPIS under the Federal Ministry of Finance, not by the police.
It read, “It is important to emphasise that the Nigeria Police Force operates as a structured and disciplined entity, adhering to established principles and professional standards.
“Consequently, any grievances raised by members of the Force are constantly attended to and channelled to the right authorities for action. The force is taken aback by the referred publication from a group of journalists in Akwa Ibom State labelling private conversations with some police friends as protest, whereas such complaints are unknown to the police authority.”
The force reiterated that officers should address salary issues through proper channels and urged journalists to avoid publishing unverified stories that could damage the police’s reputation.
“Furthermore, it is crystal clear that neither the office of the Inspector-General of Police nor the Nigeria Police Force is accountable and responsible for the salary disbursements; this responsibility lies with the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), under the Federal Ministry of Finance. The reports issued by these journalists are not only distressing but also targeted at tarnishing the reputation of the Police Force or the office of the Inspector-General of Police for reasons best known to them.
“It is, however, fundamental to reiterate that should any policeman have issues with his or her payment of salaries, he should take such up with his box keeper or MSS Officer who liaises with the IPPIS desk officers for rectification. We are convinced that no serving officer of the police in Akwa Ibom State or any part of the country would stage a protest on the non-payment of salary more so that our officers are aware of the process to address such sensitive matters,” it added.
The FPRO stated that the IG recommended personnel to address welfare issues through appropriate channels and encouraged journalists to refrain from sharing unverified reports that could damage the Force’s image.
“The Inspector-General of Police, therefore, encourages all personnel with welfare-related concerns to reach out to the appropriate authorities within their respective commands or formations, thereby avoiding any actions that could bring disrepute to the Force.
“Additionally, journalists are urged to refrain from publishing unfounded and unconfirmed stories that seek to undermine the integrity of the Nigeria Police Force for personal gain like the one under reference from the Akwa Ibom chapter,” he stated.
