Repositioning The Police

If there is any organisation that requires encouragement and prayers in all ramifications in the country, it is easily the Nigerian Police. This is so because over the years, successive governments had paid inadequate attention to the operational needs of the security agency, talk less of the welfare needs of the operatives. Hence, the low ebbs to which security has deteriorated in the country while police officers and men were the toga of underperformances. But this is not to say that the police cannot soar beyond its current level of performance of the authorities did the right things at the right time. This is why the current debate on the floor of the National Assembly over the establishment of a Police Trust Fund could be said to be a step in the right direction, as it tends to show that our leaders are not unaware of the need to reposition the police to enable it perform its duties of ensuring internal security of lives and property of Nigerians. The Nigerian Police officer and men are really doing their best within available resources. This assertion finds support in the fact that it would requires great imagination to foretell what Nigeria would be like if the police decided to down tools for one week. Thus, in view of the rising spate of violent crimes across the country, a discussion on how to reassure serving police officer and men that government is aware of their physical and psychological needs could not have come at a better time.

The police security situation in the country is one that should give any well meaning citizen cause for concern, particularly in terms of equipping the police and providing adequate welfare and remuneration packages for police operatives. This is so because poor remuneration has been cited as the reason for police extortion of citizen, particularly motorists and poor response to distress calls in the course of robbery incidents.

But more importantly, is the amount of compensation paid to the beneficiaries of police officers and men who lost their lives in the course of duty. The relevance of this requirement is underscored by the fact that while going out for an operation, a policemen could be killed by hoodlums, thus making the police one of the most endangered specie on our society. The logical question, then is, what happen to the dependants of a police officer killed in action. To clarify this point it is necessary to note that in 2010 alone, the police lost 67 officers in the cause of duty, among them, 10 senior police officers. Making this known recently, the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), in change of administration, Mr Azubuka Udah said the cause of death of these patriots ranged from gun shots from robbers, road traffic accidents, and mob attacks. Mr Udah also said that 142 rank and file were either killed or injured in the month of July in 2010 alone. Meanwhile, just last Wednesday robbers killed two policemen attached to the Ishein Police Station. It is however, interesting to note that the police and authorities moved to compensate the families of the victims as a way of cushioning the impact for the loss of their breadwinners. According to reports the police authorities doled out N45 million to 100 beneficiaries of the deceased officers. The report indicated that beneficiaries of the deceased got at least N150,000.00 while those injured got a minimum of N60,000.00. without mincing words, the police authorities should be remembered for remembering the dependants of their fallen colleagues who are also entitled to survive in this harsh environment. But what beats everyone is the paucity of the compensation in the face of the present economic reality in the land. Since we are all agreed that the police deserve more in term of equipment, logistics and general welfare package to make them more committed to their duties, then the package handed to the dependants of the officers and men who fell in 2010 is commendable. The effort of the Federal, State and Local government in supporting the police formations in their area of authority with vehicles, communication gadgets is well-known, but these are not enough to change the mindset of the average policemen who feels grossly underpaid in the face of plenty, despite the risky nature of his job.