The Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG in charge of Zone 9 Umuahia, Isaac Akinmoyede has said the Nigeria Police under the leadership IGP Usman Alkali Baba has done a lot to improve the welfare of officers and men of the Force, saying the rumoured strike by policemen is false.
Speaking in Umuahia at a lecture organised by Abia State Police command, the AIG said so much has been put on ground and in full implementation to ensure the welfare of policemen across the country.
He enumerated insurance policy for all officers of the Force in line of duty, cooperative societies which has slashed the deposit for policemen to own a house as well as medical services available to them as some of the efforts being put in place by the IGP to ensure they are motivated.
He said, “The cooperative societies have helped the policemen in owning their own houses. There is effort in place which has made it possible for their housing contributions to be slashed down. This has helped them to acquire their homes.
“Policemen will not continue to live in barracks for ever. There is a time when they have to retire. If they retire and look back, and see the kind of houses they are living in, they will be happy and it will form the basis for them to even encourage others to join the police.
“Talk of the medical services. It has improved tremendously. We now have our own reference hospital equipped with 150 beds and drugs.
“Even in terms of enabling policemen perform their duties, just few weeks ago, vehicles were made available to the commands through Police Trust Fund. These are all efforts to motivate them and improve their working environment.”
AIG Akinmoyede insists that there is no reasons for the policemen to risk their jobs to embark on strike, adding that the renovation of Police colleges in Kaduna, Maiduguri, Ikeja, Oji River as well as renovation of barracks and remodeling of Police stations are all efforts to enhance their welfare.
He applauded policemen in Zone 9 for their bravery, commitment, and loyalty to the Nigeria Police, stating that men and officer in Zone 9 have no intention of going on strike, maintaining the effect will be dangerous to the society.
He also announced that the 20 percent increment in salaries of the policemen across the country is a demonstration of Federal government’s commitment to improve the well-being of men of the Force.
In his comment, the PPRO of Abia State Command, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna expressed gratitude to the AIG for the lecture, reiterating that men of the command are not mulling any strike.
He pledged the readiness of Abia command to remain loyal and supportive to the Force in dealing with insecurity and ensuring that Abians sleep with their eyes closed, adding that the officers are motivated now than ever to discharge their functions.