Police officers deployed for Osun polls protest alleged non-payment of allowances

[FILES] Police officers barricade a road to search vehicles as counting of votes start at polling station during the gubernatorial election in Osogbo, Osun State in southwest Nigeria, on July 16, 2022. Election officials began counting ballots on July 16, 2022 after Nigeria's southwest Osun state went to the polls to elect a new governor in a final test for next year's presidential elections.

[FILES] Police officers barricade a road to search vehicles as counting of votes start at polling station during the gubernatorial election in Osogbo, Osun State in southwest Nigeria, on July 16, 2022. Election officials began counting ballots on July 16, 2022 after Nigeria’s southwest Osun state went to the polls to elect a new governor in a final test for next year’s presidential elections.
Urge President to intervene

Officers of the Nigeria Police Force drafted to provide security during the Osun State governorship election have lamented failure of police leadership to pay their allowances.

They said no fewer than 40 per cent of the rank and file of the state command, who monitored the election, had been deprived of their entitlements after the exercise.

Sources within the police command alleged that the police leadership had withheld the funds meant for officers’ feeding and other sundry allowances.

They alleged that the affected personnel were compelled to cater for their needs from their personal funds after being promised that they would be paid the moment the election was over.

The aggrieved personnel, therefore, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the police leadership for non-payment of the allowances, adding that withholding their entitlements would demoralise them in the further discharge of their duties.

MEANWHILE, the Osun Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode, said he was not around during the election and didn’t participate in the exercise.

He said top officers, who led the election security team, might be able to react to the issue.

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