Police: Reps summon minister, AGF and others for failing to implement pay rise

The House of Representatives Police Affairs Committee has summoned the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, and the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris, for the non-implementation of the revision upwards of 20% of federally approved police salaries.

The chairman of the National Salary, Income and Wages Commission, Ekpo Nta, and the Director General of the Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, were also summoned.

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This follows observations by two committee members, Ibrahim Makama Misau and Ahmed Abdullahi Kalambaina, on the poor working conditions of police officers and the difficulties they face in accessing their benefits after retirement.

The two lawmakers made the remarks after remarks from representatives of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, and the Chairman of the Police Services Commission (PSC), Musiliu Smith, during a hearing public hearing on three bills by the committee yesterday. .

The bills are as follows: A Nigeria Police Amendment Bill 2020 to regulate the powers of the police to promote effective collaboration between the police and other security agencies and to provide the framework operational community policing in Nigeria; A Firearms Amendment Bill Cap F28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 to increase fines, provide for strict prison terms and licensing fees; and a Bill establishing the Nigeria Police Intelligence Institute, Share in Kwara State.

Misau, who said he retired in 2005 as superintendent of police, added that he had not yet received his benefits due to difficulties in the police pension system.

Kalambaina, in his contribution, said the police were having difficulty in retirement as they could not access his benefits which he said were meager compared to other security officers.

Committee chairman Usman Bello Kumo who ordered the committee clerk to send out the summons said they needed to meet with the relevant agencies to find out why the upward revision of police pay was still not not implemented.

Kumo reiterated the call to exclude the police from the budget envelope system as well as the pension scheme which he said had affected them negatively.