As the proposed strike by policemen across the
country appears to be gathering more momentum, the
Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, will on
Tuesday lecture officers in Ogun and Lagos state
commands.
Some aggrieved rank and file in the Nigeria Police
Force had condemned their poor salary, lack of
sophisticated weapons to fight crime, bad condition of
their barracks, failure to provide uniforms and
accoutrements, among others.
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The junior policemen queried why operatives of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
receive much higher than they do.
Though the force headquarters had announced the
implementation of a new salary structure, provision of
accoutrements, tax waiver and other measures to
assuage the cops, they said they no longer trust their
leaders, saying they have been pushed to the wall.
They demanded N100,000 as the minimum wage,
saying this would be the first condition to stop the
strike slated for March 26, the same day the All
Progressives Congress (APC) will hold its national
convention.
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Worried by the development, it was gathered that the
presidency had summoned the Inspector-General,
warning him that the nation could not endure a strike
at a time like this.
Consequently, the IGP will today address his men in
Lagos and Ogun States, it was learnt.
It was gathered that urgent messages were sent to
police formations in the two states on Monday, asking
them to prepare for the meeting with the police boss.
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In Lagos, cops were instructed to gather at the police
headquarters in Ikeja by 7am in their service dress.
The IGP will return to Ogun to speak with policemen,
who were directed to have been seated at POWA
Secretariat, Eleweran, Abeokuta by 10am.
It is expected that IGP Baba would sensitise officers
on the measures being put in place to improve the
welfare of the police and why they should not embark
on any industrial action.