Written by Adelowo Oladipo, Lagos Saturday, 21 May 2011

NO fewer than 600 members of the Nigeria Police contingent to Liberia, Haiti and Sudan on Peace-Keeping Missions, have cried out over non-payment of their foreign allowances running into billions of naira by the Nigeria Police High Command, Abuja.

The contingent, which comprises Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Inspectors of Police, Police Sergeants, Corporals and the Constables, who were said to have been drawn from various state police commands across the country, were unhappy over the delay by the Police Headquarters in Abuja to effect the payment of about $6,000.00 to each of them since their return to the country early this year.

Saturday Tribune further gathered that this is despite the fact that the United Nations headquarters in New York, United States of America (USA) had allegedly paid the money into the office of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, through the office of the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations Department, Mr. Audu Abubakar, at the completion of their international assignments in the three countries.

Saturday Tribune was, however, informed in Lagos on Friday that despite the fact that the United Nations had allegedly confirmed payment of the said money to the Police High Command in Abuja, the aggrieved police officers were yet to receive the money from the IGP’s office.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Oluwole Amore, confirmed the incident in an interview with Saturday Tribune.

The Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), however denied the claim that the money had since been paid by the UN, saying that the Police Headquarters, Abuja, has just confirmed the payment of the foreign allowance of the 600 Nigeria police contingent on peace-keeping mission to Haiti, Liberia and Sudan, stressing that the affected officers and men should endeavour to come down to Abuja so that they can be paid.