Worried by threat of a strike by the rank and file of the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Suleiman Abba, yesterday ordered all zonal Assistant Inspectors General and Command Commissioners to strictly monitor the activities of their personnel.

Strike in the Police Force is seen as mutiny, and since 2002, the rank and file of the force have often threatened to embark on industrial action, with the threat becoming more often since April 1, 2012 when some policemen actually downed tools.

The IG, in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, and made available to journalists in Abuja yesterday, said his decision was a direct reaction to a publication in which some policemen had threatened to go on strike.

Some police inspectors had met and demanded the release of the third batch of the “ASCON ASP Promotion Course”, which they said was “supposed to have commenced at the Police Staff College, Jos since January 2012 but was put on hold by the former IGP, Mohammed Abubakar despite a directive from the Police Service Commission to release the batch for the course.”

The communiqué, signed by Inspector James Baba, Sergeant Philip Adeojo and Pat Raphael, also called on the police authorities and the IG to pay the backlog of promotion allowances and arrears of the rank and file since 2013 to date.

It also urged the IG to address the issue of distribution of uniforms, among others.

Consequently, the group said if within two weeks nothing was done on the issues affecting the welfare of the junior cadre of the force “we will have no options again than to mobilise our colleagues nationwide to embark on strike and we will not call it off until all our demands are met by the police authority.

“We do not want a repeat of the April 1, 2012 history when junior officers of the force went on strike,” the group added.

However, Abba charged members of the Inspectorate as well as the rank and file of the Force to remain resolute in pursuit of their statutory duties, saying his management team is bent on ensuring that they get their welfare entitlements as and when due. He also noted that the problems confronting the Nigeria Police Force were being addressed; adding that they should distance themselves from any act capable of jeopardising public peace or that may affect the nation’s nascent democracy.

While he warned that he will not condone any act of indiscipline, the IG reiterated that any person or group of persons caught making inciting statements in the Force would not only be punished internally, but would also be made to face the wrath of law.

“The IGP assures all police personnel that efforts are being made by the present Management Team of the Force to address Nigeria Police challenges and improve welfare, which includes promotions, courses, issuance of uniforms among others," the statement said, adding:

“The IGP further acknowledged their commitment to duties and professionalism at providing safety and securing the nation, and the sacrifices being made daily by officers.”

•Source: National Mirror. Photo shows IGP Abba.

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