Traffic Wardens Threaten Strike Over Promotions

There are complaints by some officers of the Nigeria Police Force  Motor Traffic Division (MTD) over delay in release of their promotions alongside their colleagues on general duties.

They have therefore threatened  to embark on an indefinite strike if the authorities concerned continue to ignore their demands.

Findings by our correspondent in Jos showed that the police authorities on August 2, 2023  released the promotion of officers on general duties.

The traffic wardens  called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to release their promotions.

Police spokesman in Plateau State Command, DSP Alfred Alago, told our correspondent that the command was however not aware of any planned strike by traffic wardens in the state.

But according to the affected traffic wardens who did not want their names in print because of fear of victimisation, the immediate past Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Baba Alkali, had ordered on  June 13, 2023 that as a precondition for their promotion, an assessment should be carried out on the basis of years in service and  experience.

They said the non release of their promotions was uncalled for, and was an indication of how unfairly they were being treated by the police authorities especially on promotions and welfare.

“This unfair treatment has been on for about 15 years. We have been used as a mere tools to actualise the constitutional provision of controlling traffic both on highways and streets across the country. We want to state irrevocably that if the promotions are not released immediately, we will have no option but to be forced to resort to strike.

“We are law abiding citizens of this great formation and would be grateful if our cry is look into immediately.  But if our plight is not considered, we will be forced to do the contrary because those who live in glass houses should not to throw stones,” they said.