Police salary must be increased, their salaries have remained the same for so long – Ex IGP advises Fed Govt
Police salary must be increased, their salaries have remained the same for so long – Ex IGP advises Fed Govt
Former Inspector General of Police Mike Okiro has cautioned that worsening economic conditions and inadequate welfare are eroding the capacity and morale of personnel in the Nigeria Police Force.
In an interview on ARISE News on Monday, Okiro lamented that many officers are struggling to cope with rising living costs, compounded by years of poor investment in policing infrastructure and staff support. According to him, “the police have been so neglected, no equipment, no power, no infrastructure, no welfare. That’s what I see now.”
He welcomed recent measures by President Bola Tinubu aimed at boosting police manpower, including the recruitment of thousands of new officers. Describing the move as timely, he said “the order to recruit more police officers, that’s a very good thing,” noting that expanding the workforce is essential because “the Nigerian population is growing every day.”
However, Okiro stressed that expanding the force without fixing welfare challenges will not produce meaningful results. He argued that “the welfare is very important for any staff to work” and warned that “already the morale is down.”
He noted that inflation is hitting police officers particularly hard because their salaries have remained unchanged. He explained that “the price of things are high. The police is not able to market. They have to go to market too,” adding that “salary is not only police, everywhere, we need to give fresher salary, because we have limited time.”
On capacity-building, Okiro underscored the importance of sustained skills enhancement to match evolving security threats. “Training and retraining is very, very important,” he said.
“The police will be trained and retrained. We fall in line with modern methods of policing. We fall in line with modern methods of crime.” He also emphasised the urgency of modernising policing tools, noting that “you have technology going on now. Cyber capability coming up.”
Okiro further criticised past decisions to sell off police barracks and residential quarters, arguing that the move has worsened living conditions and contributed to low morale.
Addressing issues of internal discipline, he remarked on the challenge of enforcing directives such as the withdrawal of officers from VIP security assignments. He observed that “naturally, human beings are disobedient. We are bullied to it. That is why we have police force.”
He added that stricter oversight is required because “there will be somebody to find out to ensure that there is nothing given by the IG that they comply with.”
Okiro insisted that meaningful welfare reform must be prioritised if the country expects improved security outcomes. He warned that without better pay, housing, and support systems, police morale will continue to decline, leaving citizens exposed to rising insecurity.
He urged the government to move quickly from policy announcements to real implementation, insisting that enhanced welfare must translate into a more effective and dependable police force nationwide.
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JUST IN; Oyo Governor, Makinde names Olubadan as Chairman Oyo Council of Obas
JUST IN; Oyo Governor, Makinde names Olubadan as Chairman Oyo Council of Obas
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has inaugurated the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, declaring that the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, will be heading the council for a period of 2 years.
The declaration follows the passing of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs (Further Amendments) Bill, 2025, by the state House of Assembly, and the signing of the same into law by the governor.
Recall that the lawmakers had amended Clause 5 of Section 28 of the Chieftaincy Law to make the Council chairmanship rotational among the Alaafin of Oyo, the Soun of Ogbomoso, and the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
While inaugurating the Council, Governor Makinde said he had consulted with the trio of the Alaafin, the Olubadan and the Soun, with the three of them reaching a consensus that the chairmanship should start with the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty Oba Rashidi Ladoja.
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NPF committed to community policing, says IGP Egbetokun
NPF committed to community policing, says IGP Egbetokun
The Inspector General of Police (I-GP), Dr Kayode Egbetokun, has assured that the police remained committed to community policing to ensure that criminals were drastically reduced in the country.
The I-GP, who was represented by the Assistant Inspector of Police ( AIG) Zone 17, Dr Ajani Musibau, stated this at the Police Community Relations Committee ( PCRC) National Leadership Training and Conference on Thursday in Akure.
The theme of the conference is: “Inclusivity and Diversity: the New Leadership Paradigm.”
He said that security could not be achieved by only the police, but with the support from the community.
The I-GP stated that security was a joint work and responsibility of all, commending the current leadership of the Nigeria Police for a paradigm shift towards modern policing.
Also, the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Mr Adebowale Lawal, said that bandits could not infiltrate the state due to community policing strategy embraced by the command.
He explained that bandits would have infiltrated the state through Kogi and Edo, but intelligence reports from members of PCRC had been a great help to the police command.
According to him, the support and logistics received from the Inspector General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun and Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa had also motivated police personnel to work earnestly.
He said that effective community policing was a sure way to curb activities of criminals, and implored members of the public not to relent in their efforts to provide police and other security agencies with useful information.
Lawal also commended other conventional security agencies, forest guards and vigilantes for their support to the police in fighting bandits
In his remarks, the National Chairman of PCRC, Alhaji Ibrahim Mogaji said that the conference was to strengthen leaders of PCRC in the South-West zone and encourage them to redouble their efforts and support in fighting crimes.
According to Mogaji, the occasion also enabled the association to appreciate Gov. Aiyedatiwa, I-GP, the AIG Zone 17 and the state Commissioner of Police.
He advised the participants to moblise other members of PCRC and orientate them on their roles to continue to fight crime in the country.
The PCRC national chairman asked Nigerians to respect the dignity of police and to be civil when interacting with them.
Mogaji said that the leadership training would be replicated in other geo-political zones of the country.
Also, Aiyedatiwa, represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Security, Mr Gbenga Atiba, commended the PCRC , AIG Zone 17, and the Commissioner of Police for their unrelenting efforts to guarantee peace across the state.
Aiyedatiwa promised that the state government would give PCRC attention and continue to support police and other security agencies with appropriate logistics that would make policing more effective.
A guest lecturer, Comrade Yinka Folarin asked members of the public to give respect and dignity to members of the police, saying that they also had rights that must be respected.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PCRC honoured Gov. Aiyedatiwa, AIG Zone 17 and the Commissioner of Police with awards. (NAN)
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Increase salary, welfare packages for Police other security personnel – FG told
Increase salary, welfare packages for Police other security personnel – FG told
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for improved welfare packages for armed forces personnel and all members of the security and intelligence community to aid their effectiveness and efficiency.
National Chairman of PDP, Tanimu Turaki, made the call in a statement in Abuja on Thursday to mark the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day.
Turaki also urged the Federal Government to adequately fund security agencies to effectively neutralise those he described as agents of insecurity, and restore peace to the country.
He expressed PDP’s condolences to the families of members of the armed forces who died in active service while executing their mandate of protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
“On a day like this, we acknowledge that they paid the supreme price for the continuous existence of our country.
“We advise all actors, whether state or non-state, not to engage in actions capable of destabilising the country.
“In honour of those who have died to keep our country safe, we pray that their deaths may not be in vain and their labours not forgotten,” Turaki said.(NAN)
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