…By Lola Smith for TDPel Media.
A police officer in Nigeria has spoken out about the reasons behind the widespread practice of taking bribes and extorting citizens by his colleagues in the police force.
The anonymous officer told SaharaReporters that many police officers, especially those recently recruited, have been demoralized due to the force’s failure to pay their salaries since joining.
He stated that many officers are struggling to meet their family responsibilities and have not been paid for four months.
According to the officer, the constables who graduated from police training institutions on December 29, 2020, have not received payment since then, despite reporting for duty across the country.
He said that many officers have resorted to “surviving on bribes and extortion” due to the delay in salary payment.
The officer appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector General of Police to address their plight.
The delay in salary payment has led to many officers struggling to make ends meet and resorting to corrupt practices
. The officer’s plea for assistance highlights the dire situation faced by many police officers in Nigeria.
PSC Halts Payment for Recruits Due to Supremacy Fight with NPF
The Police Service Commission (PSC) asked the Accountant-General of the Federation to halt the capture of 10,000 constables on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel System (IPPIS) in January 2023.
The commission claimed that the officers had not been issued letters of appointment and should not be enrolled on the payment portal.
However, according to the Public Service Rules, public officers not captured on the IPPIS cannot be paid salaries and other emoluments.
The PSC’s decision was a result of a disagreement with the Inspector-General of Police over the right to recruit constables.
Though the Court of Appeal ruled that the commission had the constitutional mandate to recruit constables, the NPF went ahead with the recruitment process in defiance of the court order.
The dispute between the PSC and NPF has led to the delay in salary payment for many officers.
The lack of resolution highlights the challenges facing the police force in Nigeria and the need for a comprehensive solution to address the systemic issues within the force.
Analysis and Commentary
The situation faced by police officers in Nigeria is a reflection of the wider issues facing the country.
The failure to pay salaries on time has created a situation where officers are forced to resort to corrupt practices to survive.
The lack of accountability and transparency within the police force has allowed this practice to become widespread, with citizens often at the receiving end of this corruption.
The dispute between the PSC and NPF over the right to recruit constables highlights the need for a comprehensive solution to address the systemic issues within the police force.
The failure to resolve this dispute has led to delayed salary payments and has left many officers struggling to make ends meet.
This has resulted in many officers resorting to corrupt practices, which further erodes the trust between the police force and citizens.
The Nigerian government must prioritize the welfare of police officers and ensure that they receive timely payment of salaries.
This will go a long way in addressing the issue of corrupt practices within the police force.
Additionally, there is a need for comprehensive police reform that addresses the systemic issues within the force, including accountability, transparency, and effective oversight.
Until these issues are addressed, the police force in Nigeria will continue to struggle with corruption, and citizens will continue to suffer the consequences.