Tinubu’s Broken Promise: Police Officers To Strike Over Unpaid Fuel Subsidy
Abuja, Nigeria – A looming crisis is brewing in the Nigeria Police Force, as some of its personnel have threatened to embark on a nationwide strike on Monday over the non-payment of fuel subsidy palliative.
The police officers said they have not received the N35,000 provisional wage award that was approved by President Bola Tinubu for all federal government workers for six months.
The president had announced the palliative on October 1, 2023, as a way of cushioning the effect of the removal of subsidy on petrol, which had sparked public outcry and protests.
The palliative was supposed to run from October 2023 to March 2024, but the police officers said they have only been paid for one month (October) and have been left in the dark since then.
They said their salary accounts were domiciled in First Bank, Guarantee Trust Bank and Police Microfinance Bank, and that they have not received any explanation or assurance from the authorities.
They accused the president of reneging on his promise and neglecting their welfare, while they risk their lives to maintain law and order in the country.
They vowed to down tools and take to the streets on Monday, if their demands are not met.
“We are tired of being treated like slaves. We work hard to protect the lives and properties of Nigerians, but we are not appreciated or rewarded. We have families to feed and bills to pay. We cannot survive on our meagre salaries without the fuel subsidy palliative,” one of the officers said.
The spokesperson for the Force, Muyiwa Adejobi, could not be reached for comment, as he did not respond to calls and messages from PRISTINEGIST.
