Officers and men of the Special Anti- Robbery Squad Abuja and Lagos (SARS), who performed security duties in the governorship elections in Kogi, Beyelsa and Rivers states rerun, are earnestly asking the Inspector General of Police to settle their unpaid night allowances.
Sunday Telegraph learnt that 60 officers covered the Kogi election; another 60 served in the Bayelsa election while 50 officers provided security coverage at the just concluded Rivers State governorship rerun. A reliable source within the police disclosed that out of N237, 000 accruing to each of the officers for the three election duties, only N15, 000 was paid to each of them.
The source lamented that their counterparts, who served under the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had since be paid their night allowances for their participation in the three elections.
His words: “INEC officials have taken theirs for the number of days they spent on election outside their stations duties; but each time, Police officers are asked to make sacrifice to serve the nation. Why should Police officers be denied their allowances,” he asked while noting that conduct of elections is actually the duty of INEC.
He, therefore, wondered why Police officers are all the time asked to make such financial sacrifices while INEC official will not sacrifice their allowances.
“We need this money to cater for our needs and family. What we are asking for is our right not bribe. It is known in the Financial Regulations as Night allowance; since officers are entitled to payment for special duty outside their station. Efforts to get the comments from the Police Public Relations Officer, ACP Olabisi Kolawole on the matter were abortive as she failed to pick her calls.
