It is very common and easy to hear people say the police have failed in protecting lives and property anytime there is a civil disturbance or any crime. One thing people don’t take into account is why is the failure?
In order to function as humans, there are basic things we need like oxygen, water and food among many. The police too requires some basic things to effectively work. They are not spirits or magicians.

At the risk of whatever consequences that could arise as a result of this post, please find below the supplementary budget for the police 2021.
Ministry of police affairs…. #8.5 Billion
Police formations and commands.. #22.5 Billion.
What magic can police perform with this little money.
Below is the supplementary budget for the military.
Defence Headquarters… #33.7 Billion.
Nigeria Army…. #207.5 Billion.
Nigeria Navy… #157.8 Billion.
Nigeria Airforce… #239.5 Billion.

With this statistics, we can see that the Nigeria police force has been in a state of total neglect. The federal government has systematically exposed the police to a situation that literally forces them into various malpractices they are accused of. For effective policing, the federal government should as a matter of urgency stop sidelining the Nigeria police and accord same attention it gives the Nigerian Military.

If we use about #700 Billion Naira to upgrade our military arsenals to the 21st century while leaving behind our police in the 20th century and other security agencies in the 19th century, we will be dancing with the Python & sleeping with the Cobra, Viper, Mamba & Anaconda.

Even the Inspector General of Police (IGP) earns lesser salary amongst his equals in other sister organizations.

Nigerians can now see that police is the most poorly funded organization in the country. Police officer’s take out of their meager salary to procure their personal needs and accoutrements like uniform, button’s, belts, shoe’s, Beret, line yard and even spray teargas even at the detriment of their family luxury.

police barracks are death traps because most of the buildings are leaking and dilapidated.

When you visit most of the police Division, apart from arms and ammunitions which may be intact, it is very rear to see good chairs, table fan etc, at the Charge Room.

The Admin office is nothing to write about. No Sets of functioning computer and other vital stationeries, rats and cockroaches find their houses in personnel files. Yet, they are looking up for prompt and active administration

No serviceable power generator for the Division.

The DPO source for money to furnish his/her office from anywhere, yet they are looking for justice.

An injured Policeman in the cause of his duty is abandoned to carry his cross.
Yet, they are looking for commitment from others.

The patrol vans were either donated by state govt, companies or individuals and the fueling and maintenance is the responsibility of the P&G and his team, yet they are shouting extortion and looking up for Quick Response Unit.

The DCO and his/her IPOs manages themselves at the DCB, no provision for writing materials and transport fares. Case Files, Statement forms, Bail Bonds, and other stationeries are bought by IPOs….in this case they have no option than to obtain these logistics from the complainant and risk being termed the bad eggs. Or use their meager salary to fund the investigation.

Transfer everyday and no allowance nor vehicle to convey the Officers and men yet the police authority don’t care where the transferee will put his/her head before settling down in the new place. Yet, they are shouting ineffectiveness. When deployed to the northeast for special operations, they will have to transport themselves while their colleagues from other sister agencies are well taken care of.

How do you give a hungry man without decent accommodation and allowance AK47 to work?
Is that not a suicide mission?

I know I am not the spokesperson for the police, one thing I know for sure is that the society has a way of moulding or influencing our behaviors. for instance the same Nigeria police that is termed most corrupt, still perform better than their peers when on foreign mission. why because they are being properly taken care of according to UN standard.

Now exchange a US, UK and Nigeria police, you’ll see that Nigeria police will perform better when in the US because of society. Government should look into the welfare of police for them to perform effectively.

Considering the above mentioned claims, it wouldn’t be out of place to deduce that government is largely to be blamed for the corruption in the Nigeria police.

The only thing Federal Government can boast of issuing the police is their arms and ammunition…. Every other accoutrements on a police officer’s body is been bought from his meager salary and we have kit store.

The Federal Government needs to empower the police by adjusting their welfare. Welfare here means increment of salary and making available modern equipment according to UN standard and also provide good and habitable shelter and good allowances.

UN standard here refers to a fully kitted policeman who undergoes training and retraining continuously and whose welfare is not being compromised.

UN standard also means one fully kitted and equipped policeman to about 400 persons but in the case of Nigeria police, it is about one ill-equipped policeman to about 1000 persons.
What magic will the police do to perform as required by the UN with this little or no resources.

The Federal Government has earmarked about 7 billion naira in 2021 for the welfare of the military whom in most cases get deployed for about six months or a year and then come back to safety…. While the police officer’s that are deployed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year without holidays, anniversaries, church services have been once again neglected.

A police officer is killed everyday while trying to protect others. What will it take for the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency equip the Nigeria police with modern UN standard equipment. These police officer’s see, hear, feel and experience so much of life’s darkest underbelly, dealing with people who are at their most crazy, most sad, most tormented and most intoxicated. These police officer’s live to protect you… They will fight, get injured and also die for you. They will always stand up for you and they will always be there when you need them.

In terms of salaries, I have no issues when an American, British or Australian police is paid higher than the Nigeria Police.

What I find amazing is how a Cameroonian and a Ghanaian police earns much more than our police officers do.

Ironically, Nigeria politicians earn the highest salaries the whole world.

In Luxemburg where minimum wage is $2,500, their lawmakers are paid $7,400.

In Libya where minimum wage is $430, law-makers earn $3000.

In Nigeria where minimum wage is $38 (N18,000), law-makers earn $65,000 (N29m).

The comparison is alarming.

Let’s solve a little maths….. In 2014, you earn #50,000 naira, A Dollar was #160 Naira, that means you earn 315 Dollars per month. While In 2021, your salary remains #50,000 naira, and dollar is #460, that means you now earn below 100 Dollars per month. In other words it means you have spent about 7 years of your life working backwards.
Are you retrogressing or progressing???
How long will this continue???
What magic will the police do to perform as required by the UN with these little resources?

Put your self in a police man’s shoe’s, chances are you won’t like what you see in your face.

Remember, police officers risk their lives to save yours. It’s not something they do, it’s something they are.

No matter what names they call us, I encourage all policemen to keep doing what is right….. We are what stand between good and evil.

I urge all Nigerians to let the people in government know that police officers are suffering.

Police officers are the unwanted, who are being underpaid, and will still do the unthinkable and unimaginable for the ungrateful.

We owe this officers a huge debt of gratitude.
PEACE PLS

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