Some members of the Nigeria Police Force are contemplating a work stoppage on Monday, expressing their discontent over the unfulfilled promise of fuel subsidy palliative payments by President Bola Tinubu.
President Tinubu, on October 1, 2023, sanctioned a provisional wage increase of N35,000 for all federally employed workers for a six-month period. This decision emerged after extensive discussions with a Federal Government delegation that engaged with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The wage increment was a response to a nationwide outcry triggered by the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol. The presidential announcement outlined that this supportive measure would be effective from October 2023 to March 2024.
However, some police personnel said they have only been paid for one month (October) since the commencement of the provisional wage increment.
They told SaharaReporters on Sunday that their salary accounts were domiciled in First Bank, Guarantee Trust Bank and Police Microfinance Bank.
One of the aggrieved police officers who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “We were paid only once, that is the first month, being October.
“Since then, everything has gone quiet. No one is telling us anything, especially those whose pay points are in First Bank, GTBank and Police Microfinance Bank.”
“With this type of dead silence, we may be forced to take to the streets, possibly tomorrow, Monday to peacefully protest against the non-release of the salary palliative as promised by the president,” another officer said.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the Force, Muyiwa Adejobi failed as he did not answer calls from SaharaReporters. He also did not reply to a text message sent to his mobile line.
