The federal government says it plans to review the welfare of personnel of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), including salary structure, allowances, insurance, pension-related benefits and other packages.
A statement on Thursday by Modupe Adegboro, the deputy spokesperson of the Ministry of Police Affairs, said the decision was taken on Tuesday in Abuja during a ministerial and stakeholders committee meeting.
She said the outcome of the meeting was to review the police officers’ welfare package and settlement of outstanding benefits.
The chairman of the committee and permanent secretary, Ministry of Police Affairs, Dr Anuma Ogbonnaya Nlia, said the initiative reflects the federal government’s determination to address longstanding welfare concerns affecting serving and retired police personnel while strengthening the operational effectiveness of the force.
“The committee is reviewing regular and non-regular allowances to ensure they reflect prevailing economic realities, the peculiar nature of policing, and are fully aligned with the public service rules,” he said.
He stated that the committee also examined outstanding pension arrears, death benefits, group life insurance liabilities, group personal accident claims and other welfare obligations requiring government intervention.
The statement also noted that deliberations identified inadequate accommodation as one of the major welfare challenges confronting Police personnel.
The committee said that improved access to decent accommodation would boost officers’ welfare, morale and productivity.
Mrs Adegboro stated that members further agreed on the need to harmonise existing allowances and eliminate duplication.
She also stated that this would ensure that only allowances recognised under the public service rules, alongside justified Police-specific operational allowances, are recommended.
“The committee also called for innovative and sustainable funding mechanisms to complement annual budgetary provisions and guarantee effective implementation of approved welfare programmes,” she said.
She added that the secretariat had also been mandated to produce a comprehensive draft report for consideration at the committee’s next meeting before submission to the government.