On Thursday, the Federal Government launched a comprehensive training programme for an inter-agency committee tasked with monitoring and evaluating the Federal Executive Council’s (FEC) decisions concerning the outstanding benefits, allowances, and insurance of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). The training, held at the headquarters of the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), focused on “Monitoring the Implementation of Approved Allowances and Off-setting Outstanding Pension Arrears, Death Benefits and Other Related Matters.”
In his opening address, NSIWC Chairman Ekpo Nta emphasized the importance of the programme, recalling its genesis from the #EndSARS protests in October 2020. Following these protests, then-President Muhammadu Buhari directed the NSIWC to expedite the review of the NPF’s remuneration.
Nta noted that the NSIWC conducted extensive studies, engaging with various stakeholders, including the NPF’s leadership, the Ministry of Police Affairs, the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Budget Office of the Federation, and the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President. These studies provided detailed insights into the NPF’s budget requests, approved appropriations, and actual disbursements over the past decade.
The findings led to comprehensive recommendations, which the FEC approved on December 15, 2021, to take effect from January 1, 2022. Key approvals included:
Increase of Rent Subsidy
Review of Shift Duty/Supervision Allowance
Introduction of a New Peculiar Allowance
Tax Waivers for Junior Police Personnel
Payment of Outstanding Death Benefits for Uninsured Periods (2013 – August 2021)
Payment of Benefits for Uninsured Periods (2013 – 2020)
Payment of Outstanding Burial Expenses (January 2012 – July 2021)
Priority Payment of Annual Insurance Premiums for Group Personal Accident Insurance
Priority Payment of Future Group Life Assurance Premiums
Nta underscored that the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning would collaborate with the NPF to formulate a realistic annual overhead budget to facilitate the payment of approved non-regular allowances. Additionally, the NSIWC is to present recommendations on retirement benefits and establish mechanisms for regular monitoring of NPF salary and allowance payments.
Thursday marked the commencement of training for inter-agency participants in monitoring and evaluating these implementations. Nta urged the committee members to perform their duties diligently and impartially to identify and resolve any issues that may arise. He also expressed gratitude to the NPF and NSIWC for their support and funding of this critical exercise, wishing the participants safety as they undertake nationwide tours.
This training initiative represents a significant step towards ensuring that the benefits and allowances due to the Nigeria Police Force are properly managed and disbursed, reflecting the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing the welfare of its police personnel.
