JUST- IN: Sowore Drops Bombshell As Police Inspectors Storm Streets, Protest Massively; SEE Details
Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC) and a leading figure in the #EndBadGovernance movement in Nigeria, has expressed his disappointment in the Nigerian police following a protest by some police inspectors over unpaid salary arrears.
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, as cited by the LATEST_NEWS Blog, Sowore criticized the way police officers treat civilian protesters while also suffering from similar poor conditions.
On his X page, Sowore commented on a recent protest by a group of police officers in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. These officers, known as the ” Concerned Police Inspectors in Nigeria” (CPIN), held a peaceful demonstration over unpaid salary arrears that have stretched for 11 months.
Sowore expressed his frustration with how police officers often use force, including live bullets, to suppress protests by civilians, even though they too suffer from the same systemic issues.
In his statement, Sowore wrote: ” On Thursday, @PoliceNG officers known as the ‘ Concerned Police Inspectors in Nigeria’ staged a protest at the Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, over unpaid salary arrears! The PROBLEM IS THAT THESE POLICE MEN AND WOMEN, INSTEAD OF RISING WITH GENUINE REVOLT, WOULD BE THE ONES TO TURN THEIR GUNS, BATONS AND BAYONETS ON #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria PROTESTERS. JOIN THE #FearlessInOctober NOW! ”
🔥
The protest by the police inspectors highlighted their struggle with poor working conditions and delayed wages. The group, consisting of over 1, 500 officers who were recently promoted from Inspector II to Inspector I, gathered to demand the payment of their outstanding salaries.
These officers, from various police formations across Akwa Ibom State, marched to the Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to make their concerns public.
Speaking on behalf of the group, one police officer, who chose to remain anonymous, voiced the frustration felt by the inspectors. ” Our crime- fighting morale has been dampened by the lack of commitment to our welfare by the police authorities, ” he said.
Despite their promotion, the inspectors revealed that they have been collecting the same salaries as junior inspectors rather than receiving the pay that comes with their new ranks. They explained that the salary delay has caused severe financial hardship, preventing them from adequately providing for their families.
The police inspectors submitted their grievances to several high- ranking authorities, including the Presidency, the National Assembly, and the Police Service Commission (PSC). In a letter addressed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, the inspectors wrote: ” We are over 1, 500 personnel of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Akwa Ibom Command, promoted from Inspector II to Inspector I, by the IGP effective from September 10, 2023, with a signal dated March 21, 2024. Till date, we are still collecting old salaries as junior Inspectors instead of senior Inspectors since the IGP gave us the confirmation letters. ”
Watch video
The inspectors claim that the total shortfall in their salaries amounts to over N550, 000 each. They urged the Inspector General of Police to intervene and secure their overdue payments, stressing that the ongoing delay has made it difficult for them to meet the rising cost of living in the country.
Sowore’ s reaction to this protest underscores the broader issues of poor governance and economic hardship in Nigeria. His call for unity and resistance against oppressive systems reflects his longstanding advocacy for better governance and accountability in Nigeria.
