You’re embarrassing the force—police boss tells protesting constables

No fewer than 480 Police Constables protested the non-payment of their salaries for 18 months on Wednesday in Osogbo.

The  constables marched through strategic locations in the Osun capital, carrying placards with various inscriptions.: “Pay our salaries now’’, “Okada riders are sleeping with our wives’’, “Pay us our stipends and allowances’’, among others.

Speaking with newsmen, PC Tijani Adewale said the constables have been denied their salaries after the completion of their training since May 2021.

He said in spite of the denial of their emoluments, they have remained committed to the duty of protecting lives and property.

Adewale said that three constables had lost their lives in the course of discharging their duties, while others were losing their wives to strange men.

He added that several efforts were made to ensure that the issue was given adequate attention and the salaries paid, but nothing happened.

Reacting to the protest, Commissioner of Police in Osun, Mr Adewale Olokode, ordered the protesting constables to stop the action and channel their demands to the appropriate authorities.

Olokode assured the protesters that the police authority in charge would treat their grievance.

“You are embarrassing the force with your protest; you should have channelled your grievances to the appropriate quarters.

“It’s just like you are disturbing public peace with your protest. As far as you are wearing this uniform, we expect you to maintain high discipline as force men,’’ he charged.