Police Constabularies Lament Nonpayment of Salaries

Youths recruited as constabularies into the Nigeria Police Force to complement the police in maintaining Security in Osun State on Wednesday staged a protest in Osogbo, the state capital over the nonpayment of 18 months’ salary.

The special constables in their hundreds had stormed Oke-Fia from where they moved to the popular Olaiya Flyover, Osogbo in protest, alleging that the government is owing them for 18 months.

The protesters complained that they had not been paid any salary since the completion of their training in May 2021.

Some of the protesters rode on motorcycles carrying three passengers each while others who dressed in black Police Uniform harmed themselves with placards with various inscriptions such as “Pay our salary now”, “Okada riders are sleeping with our wives”, “Pay us our 18months salary”, “Pay us Our Stipends And Allowances”, “18 months without kobo” among others.

Speaking with newsmen one of the constables, Mr Tijani Adewale said despite the fact that they had not been paid a kobo, they had been committed to duties saying in the course of which four constabularies lost their lives on duty.

According to him, “We have gone to the local government, honourables and dignitaries and yet nothing is done”.

“We lost three persons in Ikire and one in Iree. These people died in the course of discharging their duty. We are very dutiful despite the fact that we have not been paid a dime. Due to unpaid allowances, tricycle and Okada riders have snatched our wives because of the inability to take care of them.”

Addressing the protesters, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Adewale Olokode ordered them to stop the protest with immediate effect just as he assured them that the authority in charge would see to their matter.

“You are embarrassing the force with your protest; you should have channelled your grievances to the appropriate quarters. Is just like you are disturbing public peace with your protests”.

“As far as you are wearing this uniform we expect you to maintain high discipline as force men”. Mr Olokode added.

Adenitan Akinola

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