The Nigerian government has approved new allowances for the police that would see the take-home pay of police personnel increase by at least 20 percent, an official has said.
The police affairs minister, Maigari Dingyadi, told journalists that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a peculiar allowance for the police to take off from January 2022. The allowance will increase police personnel take-home pay by 20 percent of their present earning, Mr. Dingyadi said.
He said the salary increase was part of the efforts of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to meet the demands of the #EndSARS protesters. The already-sullied reputation of the Nigeria Police Force suffered more blows after the youth across the country last year took to the streets in protest against police brutality, particularly the activities of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
This special squad has long been accused of unlawful arrests, torture, extortion, and extrajudicial killings. In the protesters’ five-point demands, which include compensations for the families of all deceased victims of police brutality, the protesters also demanded an increase in the salaries of police officers.
They linked the endless extortion, corruption, and the viciousness of the men on black to poor remuneration, training, and welfare. Aside from the salary increase, the FEC meeting presided by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, also approved the review of police duty tour allowance to six percent and the release of N1.2 billion for the payment of uninsured benefits.
Also approved by FEC is the sum of N1.2 billion for the payment of outstanding allowances. The minister said FEC also approved a tax waiver for junior police personnel to take effect from October 2021. He said a major highlight of the increase in the provision of a 20 percent peculiar allowance for the Police. The Minister went on to give further highlights of the new salary.
