Buhari increases salary of police officers

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission to implement an increase in the salaries and wages of police officers in Nigeria.
The President made the revelation on Thursday in Lagos while conducting the handing over of security equipment by the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to the Lagos State Police Command during his one-day official visit to the State.

Buhari in his speech during the handing over event said no federal government since 1999 has placed greater priority on the welfare of security operatives like his government.

Apart from recruiting more personnel for the force, the president listed the signing of the Act establishing the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, assenting to the Bill amending the Nigeria Police Act as well as an increase in payment and emolument of police operatives as some of the proves that his administration places priority on the welfare of the men and officers of the Nigeria Police.

Buhari said the ‘‘Federal Government takes very seriously our constitutional oath to secure the lives and properties of the Nigerian people,” adding that “his administration was conscious of the fact that lasting security is a necessary foundation for business, investment and true prosperity.”

President Buhari declared that “no Federal government since 1999 has been as committed as his administration in reforming and repositioning the Nigeria Police Force and national policing architecture.

‘‘In 2019, I signed into law the Act establishing the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, the first in the history of the Force, to provide guaranteed funding to support Police welfare, logistics, and equipment.

‘‘In September 2020, I assented to the Bill amending the Nigeria Police Act, which was originally enacted in 1943.
‘‘This new Act, a vast improvement over the old one, among other things spells out the modalities for the implementation of a National Community Policing Scheme in Nigeria.

‘‘This new scheme will build confidence within our local communities and make them active stakeholders in the safety and security of their environs.

‘‘We are currently recruiting 10,000 new Police officers to reinforce our personnel capacity across the country. In addition to this, I have directed the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission to carry out an upward review of Police salaries and benefits,’’ he said.