In a fresh attempt to improve the welfare of Nigeria Police, the Federal Government has approved a 20 per cent increase in salaries for personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.
Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Dingyadi, disclosed this to State House Correspondents in Abuja on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by the President Muhammadu Buhari, noting that the increase will take effect from January 2022.
According to Dingyadi, the upward review is a product of the issues raised during the EndSARS protests in October 2020, adding that, the move is meant to boost the morale of police personnel across the country.
The Minister explained that the increased police personnel take-home pay by 20 percent of their present earning was one of the ways to improve the relationship between the force and the Nigerian populace.
The council also approved the review of police duty tour allowance and shift allowance to six per cent, and as well, the release of N1.2 billion for the payment of uninsured benefits.
Besides, he said that FEC approved the sum of N1.2 billion for the payment of outstanding allowances.
The Minister said that the sum of N13.128 billion was approved for outstanding death benefits for 5,472 police personnel.
He, however, said that the payment would only commence after the Auditor General of Federation must have scrutinized it.
But the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed said the upward salary review for the police was not captured in the 2022 Appropriations Bill.
She said a Supplementary Budget could be raised by the federal government and sent to the National Assembly for passage.