News
Anger in Police over Lopsided Promotions
There is discontent among some officers and men from South-East and South-South geopolitical zones in the police over what they described as “marginalisation of our officers” from the regions in the promotion of personnel.
They fear they may not have satisfactory career in the force if events continue the way they are, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to come to their rescue.
The officers alleged that they have made representations of the alleged marginalisation of their regions without success despite their qualification, hard work and dedication to duty, pointing out that there is no Assistant Inspector-General (AIGs) of police from the South-East for instance.
To this end, investigations by revealed that there are about 29 Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs) of police in the force.
Out of the 29 AIGs, 27 are general duty (GD) officers while the remaining two are specialists (medical and air wing).
It was further revealed that the veterinary section ought to have a specialist AIG but a GD officer is heading the section.
According to the officers, even with the 29 AIGs, the South-South and the South-East are being marginalised, as only one officer from the South-South is an AIG, while there is no AIG from the South-East.
It was gathered that while the South-East zone has no AIG, Niger State – where the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, comes from – and Plateau State have two and three AIGs, respectively.
It was further gathered that since Ibrahim Idris took over as the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) on June 21, 2016, no Commissioner of Police (CP) from the South-East has been recommended to the Police Service Commission (PSC) for promotion to the rank of AIG.
When DAILY INDEPENDENT called Jimoh Moshood, Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), he advised the newspaper to reach PSC, which, he said, is in charge of officers of that category.
However, a dependable source close to the Chairman of PSC, retired IGP Mike Okiro, explained on phone that promotion to the rank of AIG was not determined by quota or the federal character principle.
“Promotion from the rank of Commissioner of Police is not done on quota system or on federal character basis.
“In the police, only the rank of Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) is done on quota system or on federal character.”
The source cited the Chairman of PSC who, he said, “was promoted from the rank of a CP to the rank of DIG, even when there were two AIGs senior to him.”
The source added: “Another rank that is done on either quota system or on federal character is from Inspector to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) only during recruitment exercise.
“Promotion of any other rank is done on seniority basis, except on hard work – an officer who has performed an extra feat is promoted to encourage him.”
Explaining why the South-East has no AIG, the source disclosed that a commissioner from the South-East may soon be promoted.
“There was a CP from the South East who is number three on seniority list in the force. He will be given an AIG before the year ends,” the source assured.
On Tuesday, Last week, the PSC announced the promotion of 414 officers.
A breakdown shows that three Commissioners of Police (CPs) were promoted to the next rank of AIGs, four Deputy Commissioners (DCPs) to Commissioners of Police (CPs) and 12 Assistant Commissioners (ACPs) to DCPs.
The three CPs promoted to the rank of AIG are CP Danjuma Ibrahim, CP Istifanus Shettima, and CP Jimoh Omeiza Ozi-Obeh.
Findings revealed that promotion to a higher rank is not automatic but on availability of vacancy.
“A whole zone cannot produce an AIG, yet Niger State – where the IGP comes from – produces two AIGs. This is one of the lopsidedness and oppression going on in this government. We leave everything to God,” one of the senior officers from the South-East lamented.
Similarly, some officers from the South-South who spoke on strict anonymity also complained about the situation.
“Apart from not giving us (the South-South) equality in the police in the areas of promotion, most of our mates are two ranks ahead of us, and when we see them we salute our juniors who are now our seniors because they are from a particular section of the country.
“The IGP is showing tribalism openly, he posted only his people to juicy areas. He cannot be IGP forever, he will go one day.”
Investigations further revealed that to rectify the marginalisation of South-South officers, the PSC recently promoted Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohinmi, twice within six months to meet up with his contemporaries.
The AIGs and their states of origin are as follows: Musa Katsina (Katsina); Abdul Salami Ayaji (Kogi); Tilli Abubakar (Kebbi), Zone 6, Calabar; Dorothy Gimba (Plateau); Abdul Bube (Sokoto); Agboola Oshodi-Glover (Lagos); Umaru Shehu (Kebbi); Usman Yakubu (Niger); Abdulmajid Ali (Niger); Abubakar A. Mohammed (Nasarawa); Kayode Aderanti (Osun); Mohammed Usman Sani (Bauchi); Yakubu Jibrin (Nasarawa); Ibrahim Adamu (Zamfara), Zone 2; Abdul Dahiru (Kano); Salisu F. Abdullahi (Kano); Lawal Shehu (Katsina), border patrol; Aminchi Samaila Baraya (Taraba); Usman Alkali Baba (Yobe), maritime; Tijani Dada (Yobe); Abubakar Marafa (Kebbi); Dan Bature (Plateau); Karma Hosea Hassan (Taraba); Felix Ogundeji (Ondo); Frederick Taiwo Lakanu (Lagos); Hilda Idiruro Harison (Edo); Rasheed O. Akintunde (Ogun); Ezekiel Zang (Plateau), airwing; and Mohammed, medical.
…It’s unprecedented to earn above minimum wage in Enugu- Labour
… We’ll commence implementation immediately- ALGON
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has approved N80,000 minimum wage for the state’s work force, including local government workers, effective October 2024, noting a direct link between a motivated workforce and his administration’s vision of growing the state’s economy from $4.4bn to $30bn.
The new minimum wage covers all state employees, primary school teachers, and local government workers.
Organised labour has described the wage as unprecedented, as it was the first time that Enugu workers would be earning above the national minimum wage.
Mbah announced the new minimum wage on Thursday after a meeting with the Enugu State Minimum Wage Implementation Committee headed by the Head of Service, Kenneth Ugwu and labour leaders, including the state’s labour leaders.
Mbah said, “Few weeks ago, I inaugurated a committee with the responsibility to oversee the implementation of the New National Minimum Wage in Enugu State. Today, I’m happy to announce a new minimum wage for workers in Enugu State, reflecting our fidelity to their welfare, in regard of which we have been resolutely committed.
“We have approved the sum of N80,000 as the new minimum wage in Enugu State. This underscores our commitment to bequeathing lasting legacies of improved living conditions.
“Our commitment to improved workers’ welfare runs deep, and is rooted in the firm understanding of the inextricable link between an inspired workforce and the audacious economic targets we had set our sights on.
“We clearly understood that reducing poverty to the barest minimum and achieving an unprecedented economic growth target were contingent on the output of the workforce. Therefore, for us, the best way to acknowledge that labour creates wealth is by ensuring that the workforce, which creates the wealth that oils the wheel of government, is sufficiently motivated.
“We have similarly demonstrated our commitment to workers welfare through the consistent payment of the wage awards, a gesture we had pledged to sustain until a new wage structure took effect.”
Speaking, the Chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Fabian Nwigbo, thanked governor Mbah for always prioritising the welfare of workers, describing the new minimum wage as “a great one for Enugu workers.”
“In the past, when minimum wage is announced, it takes up to one or two years for anything to happen; and when it did, we took anything they gave us as we saw it. But today, you have even given us something much higher than national minimum wage.
“But I am not totally surprised because when other governors were paying N12,000 wage award, you were paying us N25,000. When others paid for some months and stopped, you continued paying it until the new minium wage as you promised. So, we have enjoyed wage award for 11 months and today you announced the minimum wage which is the first of its kind since my 32 years in service,” said.
Speaking to Government House correspondents, the Chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Comrade Ben Asogwa, said, “We are so happy. The governor did not just announce ₦80,000 minium wage, but said that it cascades down to even local government workers. He said that he does not want disparity in salary implementation in Enugu State anymore because we all go to the same market.
“This is the first time in history we are seeing the implementation of minimum wage above the approved amount by the federal government. Actually, when we entered into the negotiation, we were afraid because we know quite well that we are not among the states that share in dividends of oil money. We know quite well that we are at the back when it comes to federal allocation, but His Excellency actually surprised us.
“One thing we have seen is that he understands the impact of motivation on productivity. The governor has set a pace and we know that any other person coming after him will have the challenge to meet up with the target set by His Excellency, Governor Peter Mbah.”
On his part, Chairman of the Association of Local Government Workers, ALGON, Enugu State, Hon. Okechukwu Edeh, pledged the commitment of council chairmen to implementing the new minimum wage.
“When you motivate workers, they become more productive. What I am promising on behalf of the Enugu ALGON family is that we are going to cascade the new minimum wage to the local government level. Implementation begins immediately,” he said.
News
Matawalle Brief President Tinubu on Security Situation in North-West
Minister commends Nigerian Military, reports SANDRA ANI
The Honourable Minister of State for Defence, H.E. Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle, MON, briefed President H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR on the outcome of his two operational tours to Sokoto State
Dr. Matawalle highlighted the significant successes recorded by the Nigerian Military in combating insecurity in the region, praising the dedication and professionalism of the Nigerian Military, particularly the Armed forces of Nigerian . “They will continue to play a critical role in safeguarding our nation,” he emphasized.
According to a statement signed by Henshaw Ogubike, director (Information and Public Relations), at the Ministry, the Minister eulogised President Tinubu for his Government’s commitment to providing necessary resources to maintain operational efficiency in countering security threats in the North-West. He also reaffirmed the government’s resolve to bolster NAF’s capacity as part of the strategic fight against insecurity in the region.
Dr. Matawalle’s operational visit to Sokoto State aimed to rekindle the people’s faith in the Federal Government’s efforts to restore peace and security in the North-West region. His presence, along with the Chief of Defence Staff and other military chiefs led to the elimination of many bandit leaders amongst whom is Halilu Buzu sububu. This demonstrates the government’s determination to flush out bandits and terrorists.
The Minister called on residents of Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, and Kebbi states to remain vigilant and cooperate with security forces to ensure the success of ongoing operations.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was very pleased with his briefing and commended the Minister and the troops in their renewed vigour to eradicate insecurity in the North West and the country.
…Says MOD has the infrastructure to make both systems work effectively
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, has inaugurated the Project Steering Committee and Project Implementation Technical Team for the Performance Management System (PMS) and the Enterprise Content Management of the Ministry of Defence with a charge on the members of both Committees to make the Ministry shine.
Inaugurating the committee at the Ship house, Abuja, the Permanent Secretary said that the Ministry of Defence has the infrastructure and human resources that are experts to drive the process to success. “We have experts in the Ministry that can drive the process. We have Directors and Deputy- Directors from different departments who are experts and can help in cascading the processes down to other staff of the Ministry,” he said.
He therefore called on the Ministry’s Performance Management System (PMS) Champions to demonstrate unwavering commitment and excellence in driving service delivery and achieving set targets in line with the ministry’s mandate towards fulfilling the renewed hope agenda.
While he acknowledged that there might be initial hiccups, he charged the PMS Champions to be resilient in overcoming the initial challenges that may arise with the programme’s rollout and re-emphasized the need for a continuous training. “In MOD, training is not going to be an issue. We can afford to be organizing training on PMS and ECM every week.
Furthermore, Dr. Kana said that the PMS and ECM Champions are expected to lead the charge towards ensuring efficiency, productivity, and accountability across the Ministry, with the ultimate goal of achieving total compliance with government performance standards.
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