Several officers attached to the 78 Police Mobile Force stationed in the Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State have protested the payment of only N25,000 out of the N35,000 entitled to them as election allowances for participating in the 2023 general elections in Nigeria. The officers accused the commander of the unit, ACP Tukur Garba, of withholding their entitlements despite warnings from the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to pay the money.
According to SaharaReporters, the police officers claimed that they had not received their allowances for the last elections weeks after the conclusion of the general elections. They alleged that Garba refused to pay them their allowances and started threatening them, despite being on a special operation that was expected to be paid in cash. The officers claimed that all other police personnel in various PMF and command were paid N35,000 each but they had yet to receive anything.
Following the publication of the news, Garba reportedly released N20,000 to each officer, instead of the approved N35,000 by the police authorities. The officers expressed their gratitude for the support from SaharaReporters and the exposure of the commander’s actions, but also appealed to Nigerians to help them beg Garba to pay all the N35,000 entitled to them.
The officers accused Garba of denying his identity when SaharaReporters called him, which they claimed spoke volumes about the kind of individual he was. They further alleged that Garba refused to release the transfer letters of most of their colleagues for reasons best known to him, and called for his removal as a commander of any unit or command in the Nigeria Police Force.
It is noteworthy that the Nigerian Police Force had earlier assured the public that all police personnel involved in the 2023 general elections would receive their allowances promptly. The police authorities had also warned that any officer found guilty of withholding allowances or engaging in any form of corrupt practices would face the full weight of the law.
The protest by the police officers raises questions about the level of corruption and disregard for the welfare of the police personnel in Nigeria. The issue of unpaid allowances is not new, as many police officers in the country have complained of delayed or non-payment of their entitlements, which often leads to low morale and reduced efficiency in carrying out their duties.
The Nigeria Police Force must take urgent steps to ensure that police personnel are promptly paid their entitlements, as this is crucial for enhancing their motivation and effectiveness in maintaining law and order in the country. The authorities must also investigate the actions of ACP Tukur Garba and hold him accountable if found guilty of withholding allowances and engaging in corrupt practices.