The Federal Executive Council, FEC, at its meeting on Wednesday approved a 20 per cent upward review of salary for the police force with effect from January 2022.
Briefing State House correspondences at the end of the virtual council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, The Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi disclosed that the increased police personnel take-home pay by 20 percent of their present earning was one of the ways to improve the relationship between the force and the Nigerian populace.
Other approvals by the council include review of police duty tour allowance and shift allowance to six per cent, and as well, the release of N1.2 billion for the payment of uninsured benefits.
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According to the minister, the approval was in consonance with President Buhari’s promise to enhance police personnel pay as demanded by #EndSARS protesters.
The Minister said that the sum of N13.128 billion was approved for outstanding death benefits for 5,472 police personnel.
He, however, stated that the payment would only commence after the Auditor General of Federation must have scrutinized it.
Tax waiver of N18.6 billion was also announced for personnel between Grade Levels 1 to Grade Levels 14.
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed however pointed out that the upward salary review for the police was not captured in the 2022 Appropriations Bill. She added that government could raise a Supplementary Budget and send it to the National Assembly for passage.
