Policemen Should Earn ₦500,000 Monthly — Sowore
•By Admin
LAGOS – THE Rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has called for a significant increase in the salaries of Nigerian police officers, proposing that each officer should earn at least ₦500,000 monthly. He decried the current pay structure, which he said grossly favours lawmakers at the expense of frontline security personnel across the country.
Sowore made the remark on Tuesday, ahead of a planned nationwide protest scheduled for July 21, aimed at highlighting the dire working conditions of police officers across the country.
“The Nigerian state is very unfair to the police. While it pays its senators about ₦30 million monthly, a Nigerian police officer barely earns anything reasonable,” Sowore said.
“I believe that every police officer should earn nothing less than ₦500,000 monthly.”
According to him, increasing police salaries would not only boost morale but also reduce corruption within the force and enhance public safety.
The activist also condemned the disparity in public sector compensation, describing it as unjust and reflective of a failed system that rewards political officeholders while neglecting critical service providers.
Sowore’s position has rekindled public debate over the salaries and allowances of Nigerian lawmakers, which remain among the highest globally. He cited previous reports suggesting that each senator receives about ₦29 million to ₦30 million monthly in salaries and allowances, despite widespread complaints about underfunding in essential sectors like security, health, and education.
As preparations for the July 21 protest continue, Sowore urged Nigerians to demand accountability and fair compensation for security personnel, noting that improved welfare conditions for the police are crucial to addressing insecurity and rebuilding trust between citizens and law enforcement.
It remains to be seen how the Nigerian Police Force will respond to the planned protest and Sowore’s salary proposal. While the police have often been accused of suppressing peaceful demonstrations in the past, many Nigerians are watching to see whether the force will allow its own aggrieved officers to voice their concerns peacefully or resort to the usual tactics of repression.
•INDEPENDENTNG.