Buhari Makes Empty Promises On Salary Increase Since 2018; Here’s What Nigerian Policemen Currently Earn

President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2018 announced the increment in salaries for policemen in the country but the Nigeria Police Service Commission and the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force have yet to implement the new structure.

Again, in 2020, the President made another directive on police salary increment in compliance with one of the demands of the #EndSARS protesters.

Buhari also in June 2021 while delivering a speech during a one-day visit to Lagos State, where he inaugurated various projects, said he had given directives for the upward review of Police salaries and benefits.

“We are currently recruiting 10,000 new police officers to reinforce our personnel capacity across the country.

“In addition, I have directed the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission to carry out an upward review of Police salaries and benefits.

“Let me also use this opportunity to commend the leadership of the Force for their efforts, for the reforms being implemented in the area of police pensions.

“I have charged the Inspector General of Police to leave no stone unturned in the rebuilding of the morale of his officers and men,” he had said.

According to Vanguard, investigation showed that the president’s directive had not been carried out. Findings revealed that what some policemen got as salary review was an increment between N2,000 and N25,000 difference, according to the report,

Some policemen disclosed that this directive had not been carried out.

At the moment, a recruit earns N10,115 monthly, a Police Constable II earns N42,000; Constable I,N43,998; Corporal N45,737; Sergeant, N50,534; Sergeant Major,N63,992; Inspector II/cadet Inspector, N87,000and an Inspector, N130,171.

On the other hand, a Cadet ASP earns N130,000 monthly; an ASP II, N139,171; Asst Superintendent of Police I, N153,989; a DSP N168,820; a Superintendent of Police,N179,813; and a Chief Superintendent of Police N220,160.

The Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi on Tuesday said that a new salary package was underway for the officers and men of the Nigerian police.

He explained during a session of 2022 budget defence with the Joint National Assembly Committee on Police Affairs that President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Salaries and Wages Commission to work out the package and submit it to the government for consideration.

“In recognition of the take-home pay of the police which necessitated the need to motivate them for better performance, the President directed the Salaries and Wages Commission to work out a new salary package for the Nigerian Police and submit it to the government for consideration.

“In keeping with this directive, the Commission in consultation with the relevant stakeholders has submitted a proposal to the government which is being given the desired and urgent attention.”

Some officers of the Nigeria Police Force were recently caught on camera demanding and collecting bribes from a motorist along Idiroko Road, Ogun State.

In a video exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters, the policeman was seen pocketing an undisclosed amount of money while telling the driver “number four”.

“That’s how they do; not only the police, there are the Nigerian Customs, soldiers and others. They give you a special number after collecting money from you. We’re sick and tired of this daily extortion,” a motorist had told SaharaReporters.

“They sometimes indiscriminately seize our vehicles and force us to pay huge sums of money before they are let go. Their wahala (trouble) is too much,” another victim lamented.

He therefore, urged the Nigerian government to intervene.