POOR WELFARE: Will Police Officers Embark on Strike on March 26 in Eagle Square, 36 States?
Few days day after the Force Headquarters denied reports of a planned strike, junior police officers are adamant to proceed on the protest throughout the Federation.
An unsigned signal revealed that junior officers planned to embark on a warning strike to protest against their poor working conditions, poor salaries, lack of genuine welfare benefits and outdated weapons.
The acting Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi had debunked the rumour, maintaining that information about the purported strike was fake and mischievous.
Meanwhile, the tone of their signal, Junior police officers are set for a showdown with the management of their security agency.
They said their planned protest billed for March 26 will still hold.
According to a memo addressed to the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, which was obtained by PRNigeria, the nationwide protest tagged, “We Are Tired of Negligence,” will take place at the Eagle Square in Abuja, and across the 36 States.
The junior officers called on their colleagues, especially those attached to politicians not to resume for duties on the day of the protest.
“Strike is the only language Nigeria Government understands,” they claimed.
Can Police go on strike?
The acting force spokesperson in his recent statement sent to PRNigeria said that such an action of protest is “mutinous.”
In his press statement, Muyiwa Adejobi stated that: “The Nigeria Police Force wishes to state unequivocally that the alleged publication is fake and a mischievous attempt by unscrupulous individuals to bring the Force to disrepute, misinform the general public and heat up the polity.
“It is pertinent to restate that the Nigeria Police Force is a regimented and disciplined organisation with laid down rules and guidelines for addressing grievances and in no circumstance is a strike action one of such means.
“The men and women of the Nigeria Police Force are fully aware that a strike action or other deliberate disruption of law enforcement services by any security organization is mutinous and the personnel of the Force would not degenerate at any point to that level of disloyalty and indiscipline, as policing services are paramount and essential in the maintenance of orderliness and peace in the nation.”
▪︎ Report by PRNigeria