IGP BABA TO POLICE OFFICERS: 'DO YOUR JOB PROFESSIONALLY AND CONSCIENTIOUSLY', ASSURES OF SALARY INCREMENT, TAX RELIEF, OTHERS

Share this:

IGP BABA TO POLICE OFFICERS: ‘DO YOUR JOB PROFESSIONALLY AND CONSCIENTIOUSLY’, ASSURES OF SALARY INCREMENT, TAX RELIEF, OTHERS

By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper

The issues of better welfare and conditions of service of the men and officers of Nigeria Police is a matter of interest for people within and outside the security agency. For about a week, there were concerns that some police officers could embark on a strike or protest. This topped the priority of the discussion when the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Research and Planning, DIG Johnson Kokumo paid a visit to Lagos yesterday. This important visit enabled him to interact and discuss with top officers as well as the rank and file in Lagos State of the South-West geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The meeting had in attendance Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2, AIG Bode Adeyinka Adeleke, AIG in charge of Marine, AIG I.S Kaoje, Commissioner of Police, Lagos Command, CP Sylvester Abiodun Alabi, CP in Charge of Police College, CP Gbenga Asafa, Deputy Commissioners of Police, Area Commanders, DPOs and all other police officers at the Lagos State Command Headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos.

L-R: Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Sylvester Abiodun Alabi with Assistant Inspector General of Police, In-Charge of Zone 2, AIG Bode Adeleke

Speaking at the meeting, DIG Johnson Kokumo said: ‘The issue of promotion is being looked into by the IGP. The President has given instructions and approval that more policemen should be employed and training is ongoing in all the training colleges. To facilitate the ongoing training, the refurbishment of facilities are ongoing including Police College Ikeja here.’

‘There are many areas that our IGP is making frantic efforts to improve on our welfare. Actualization is under process. It is not something that will be solved immediately. It will require inter-ministerial efforts involving ministries of Police Affairs, Finance, salaries and wages to put this together. The increment has been ordered by the President, it remains in force, and no one can refuse the order.

L-R: Deputy Inspector General of Police, In-Charge of South West, DIG Johnson Kokumo; Assistant Inspector General of Police, In-Charge of Zone 2, AIG Bode Adeleke and Deputy Commissioner of Police, DC Administration and Finance, DCP Bassey Ewah Receiving the DIG Johnson Kokumo to the Lagos Command Headquarters, Ikeja.

The implementation process is ongoing. I want to assure you that in a short while, you will have your salaries with the increment ordered by the President.

Added to that, tax relief has equally been granted to increase the total package that you go home with at the end of the month. It is intended to better your lot and to improve your welfare’, National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP can reliably report.

DIG Kokumo then asked the men and officers to do a good job. ‘It is therefore a duty on your part that to be law abiding as a civic responsibility and as law enforcers. It is common knowledge in Nigeria that Police is lead agency in internal security. As lead agency, we should be able to occupy our position effectively and adequately.’

L-R: Deputy Inspector General of Police, In-Charge of South West, DIG Johnson Kokumo in a warm handshake with Assistant Inspector General of Police, In-Charge of Zone 2, AIG Bode Adeleke and Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Sylvester Abiodun Alabi during DIG Kokumo’s Visit to Lagos State Command Headquarters, Ikeja.

Allowing the police officers, especially the rank and file to freely interact with him, DIG Kokumo answered further questions bothering on promotion, pensions, among others.

One of the questions posed is what is the effort of the Police management team about the contributory pension scheme?
To this, the DIG responded: ‘Welfare is before the National Assembly. I happen to be one of the DIGs that attended the public hearing at the House of Representatives when DIG Sanusi led the Police contingent. We were there with a position paper on the instructions of the IGP.’

L-R: Deputy Inspector General of Police, In-Charge of South West, DIG Johnson Kokumo; Assistant Inspector General of Police, In-Charge of Zone 2, AIG Bode Adeleke and Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Sylvester Abiodun Alabi during DIG Kokumo’s Visit to Lagos State Command Headquarters, Ikeja.

‘It will surprise you to know that many people who are not Police officers were there to solidarize with us at the House of Representatives. I want to implore you to exercise a bit more patience to expect the outcome of National Assembly. There is hope it may also impact our salaries.’

Another officer hinted ‘Nigeria Police is blessed with a lot of people that are well-educated. Among them are lawyers, accountants, some of them even get to the extent of having a second degree and PhD. But sometimes through the ranks, some of them are not allowed to display their intellect and education they have acquired to the furtherance of Police. We want you to do something so that they can get to a level where they can use the education they have acquired’.

L-R: Deputy Inspector General of Police, In-Charge of South West, DIG Johnson Kokumo in a warm handshake with Deputy Commissioner of Police, DC Operations, DCP Ahmed Kantagora as Assistant Inspector General of Police, In-Charge of Zone 2, AIG Bode Adeleke and others looks on during DIG Kokumo’s Visit to Lagos State Command Headquarters, Ikeja.

His response, DIG Kokumo said: ‘The IGP is looking into the issue of promotions. Some have spent a long time on a particular rank. Every personnel would have his/her position as when due. You can be very sure that necessary machinery has been put in place. In cases where some have their promotion delayed due to disciplinary matters, once they are exonerated the promotion will be approved.’

Another low-ranked officer asked why the problem of Police is always exposed to the public. ‘Is it only Police that has problems, why is it so?’

To this, DIG Kokumo commented: ‘The issue of Police is of immense interest to the public because we are very important. It is a constitutional matter that the Police has come to stay, that is why we tell you to do your job professionally and conscientiously. If you do it well, you receive commendation, if you don’t, you receive condemnation. Let us work ethically’.

L-R: Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Sylvester Abiodun Alabi; Assistant Inspector General of Police, In-Charge of Zone 2, AIG Bode Adeleke and Deputy Inspector General of Police, In-Charge of South West, DIG Johnson Kokumo in a warm handshake with Area Commander, Area H, ACP Kabir Kandawa during DIG Kokumo’s Visit to Lagos State Command Headquarters, Ikeja L-R: Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Sylvester Abiodun Alabi; Deputy Inspector General of Police, In-Charge of South West, DIG Johnson Kokumo and Assistant Inspector General of Police, In-Charge of Zone 2, AIG Bode Adeleke during DIG Kokumo’s Visit to Lagos State Command Headquarters, Ikeja L-R: Deputy Commissioner of Police, DC In-Charge of SCID, DCP Fayoade Adegoke; Deputy Commissioner of Police, DC In-Charge of Operations, DCP Ahmed Kantagora and others L-R: Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Sylvester Abiodun Alabi; Deputy Inspector General of Police, In-Charge of South West, DIG Johnson Kokumo and Assistant Inspector General of Police, In-Charge of Zone 2, AIG Bode Adeleke during DIG Kokumo’s Visit to Lagos State Command Headquarters, Ikeja L-R: Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Sylvester Abiodun Alabi; Deputy Inspector General of Police, In-Charge of South West, DIG Johnson Kokumo and Assistant Inspector General of Police, In-Charge of Zone 2, AIG Bode Adeleke during DIG Kokumo’s Visit to Lagos State Command Headquarters, Ikeja

Deputy Inspector General of Police, In-Charge of South West, DIG Johnson Kokumo speaking with Officers and Men of the Nigeria Police Force in Lagos at the Lagos State Command Headquarters, Ikeja

CP Sylvester Abiodun Alabi (m) PPRO Lagos State Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin moderating while, Administration Officer, PPRO Department, Lagos State Command, DSP Stephen Kuti L-R: Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Sylvester Abiodun Alabi with Deputy Inspector General of Police, In-Charge of South West, DIG Johnson Kokumo during DIG Kokumo’s Visit to Lagos State Command Headquarters, Ikeja L-R: Assistant Inspector General of Police, In-Charge of Zone 2, AIG Bode Adeleke and Assistant Inspector General of Police, In-Charge of Marine, AIG I.S Kaoje during DIG Kokumo’s Visit to Lagos State Command Headquarters, Ikeja CP Sylvester Abiodun Alabi giving the vote of thanks during DIG Kokumo’s Visit to Lagos State Command DIG Johnson Kokumo (m) speaking with PPRO Lagos Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin (2nd right) as AIG Bode Adeleke (2nd left) and CP Sylvester Abiodun Alabi (right) looks on during DIG Kokumo’s Visit to Lagos State Command, Ikeja L-R: AIG I.S Kaoje in a warm handshake with CP Sylvester Abiodun Alabi L-R: AIG Zone 2, AIG Bode Adeleke; DIG In-Charge of South West, DIG Johnson Kokumo being acknowledged by ACP Mary Ayim and Area Commanders, Area J, ACP Ola Agboola during DIG Kokumo’s Visit to Lagos State Command L-R: Commissioner of Police, CP Police College Ikeja, CP Kunle Asafa and Area Commander, Area H, ACP Kabir Kandawa during DIG Kokumo’s Visit to Lagos State Command L-R: DCP Bassey Ewah; DCP Fayoade Adegoke; DCP A. Lawal and ACP