IGP In Last Minute Moves To Abort Planned Strike By Junior Officers

Ayodele Oni

Since the rumour of impending strike action by rank and file within the Nigeria Police filtered, efforts have been intensified by senior officers to abort the action.

Part of the moves is visits to the various police commands in the country by top echelon of the force to douse tension over the strike.

The Inspector General of Police Usman Alkali Baba has been visiting states to educate those behind the planned strike on the need the shelve the action.

The IG representative was in Ondo and Ekiti states which make up Zone 17 on Thursday, where AIG Okon, declared that there was no plan by policemen attached to the Zone to embark on  industrial action.

Mr Okon said in Akure, the Ondo state capital, when the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, visited the State Police Command as part of efforts to stop the planned strike action.

The AIG stated that policemen under his supervision would not abstain from work.

“Strike cannot happen in Zone 17. Policemen under Zone 17 cannot abstain from work. It is not contemplated here. There is no planned strike action here.”

In his reaction, the Inspector General of Police who was represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Southwest, Mr Babatunde Kokumo, advised against being found guilty of committing mutiny.

The IGP, who said the salary increase for police personnel was being processed, noted that efforts were on to exit the police from the current Contributory Pension Scheme.

“I want to assure that there shall be better salary soon. I want to caution that you don’t allow disgruntled elements to lure you into anything criminal.

“Do not get involved in things that will be inimical to your work, your profession. Many of those persons are faceless.

“They are looking for who to use as a scapegoat so that they will have the opportunity to laugh at you when you are in trouble.

“Do not be found guilty of committing mutiny. Do your jobs diligently. Eschew all unethical things. Do your jobs with diligence. Let there be heavy respect for the rights of the citizens.”

On his part, the Ondo state Police Commissioner, Mr Oyeyemi Oyediran, assured the IGP that policemen under his command rejected the strike action.