Reps Seek Better Deal For Police Officers

House of Representatives yesterday took steps to address the deplorable living conditions of the Nigeria Police Force officers and called for the auction of all police barracks across the country.

The House’s resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Hon. Murphy Osaro Omoruyi (LP, Edo) at plenary.

Moving the motion, Omoruyi said the problem of adequate and dignified accommodation for police officers persists and has so far outlived all previous measures.

According to him, between 2019 and 2022 over N5 billion was spent by the federal government on barracks renovations.

The lawmaker said, despite all the efforts, barracks continue to fail to meet basic needs in their current state of disrepair and lack of maintenance.

Omoruyi said the barracks method of housing for police and local law enforcement officers is a relic colonial practice that has since been abandoned by the same colonialists in their home countries.

He expressed worry that: “Police officers and their families live in squalor quarters characterised by large cracks on the wall, bat-infested houses, leaking roofs and dilapidated structures for barracks across the country.

“Our police officers have been tagged as corrupt and this is not far-fetched from lack of welfare services for them. The public have lost confidence and respect in our gallant officers due to their poor condition of service.

“The deplorable living condition of the police officers has dampened their morale and productivity. If this issue is not urgently addressed, the welfare of our gallant officers will continue to deteriorates.”

The lawmaker called for the abolishment of the barracks model and its replacement with an enhanced “Housing Allowance” determined by rank, existing police salary structure and location.

Similarly, the House resolved to investigate the incessant loss of firearms and ammunition in the Nigeria Police Armament from 2012-2022.

This was sequel to adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Salman Idris from Kogi who said the Auditor General for the Federation Report indicated that about 178,459 arms and ammunition were missing from Police Armament in December 2018, with unaccounted 3,907 assorted rifles as of January 2020 without any trace or formal report.

“The Nigeria Police have lost sufficient firearms to arm four full-size infantry divisions which were not reported, thus, violating paragraph 2603 of the Financial Regulations, 2009, which requires officers to report store losses to the head of department or unit within three days if the loss occurs away from headquarters.