Former Chairman of Police Service Commission, Chief Simon Okeke, has described the nation’s police officers as the poorest paid in Africa amidst risks taken in the line of duties.
He said the federal government should ensure serving and retired officers were well remunerated and adequate entitlements given to them.
Okeke, who spoke Tuesday at his country home in Amichi, Nnewi South Local government area of Anambra State, noted that the police lamentation over poor funding should not be overlooked.
He advised that members of the police should be promoted as at when due as a source of encouragement to the force.
He said: “The federal government should make sure the police, both serving and retired get well paid and adequate entitlements given to them as people who risk their lives to protect lives and property of the citizens and non nationals.
“Nigeria police are the poorest paid in Africa. They deserve better treatment and I can see they almost stopped the way I took care of them. The military is well taken care of in all ramifications and the welfare of the police should be the same.”
Okeke however expressed joy that the Police Trust Fund was coming on board and hoped that something good would come out of it.
Describing the nation’s economy as one in comatose, the ex-Police chief regretted that Nigeria was only groping to find solutions.
“The country is in colossal debt and a big chunk of the budget is for recurrent expenditure leaving little for capital expenditure. The country is in the woods,” he said.
He however lauded nation’s border closure, stressing that the action would encourage local industries.
