Anger in police hospitals over unpaid allowances

There is anger at the Police Hospital, Falomo, Ikoyi, and the Police Cottage Hospital, Ikeja, in Lagos State, over six-year allowances that are allegedly owed the rank and file medical policemen by the police authorities.

The non-payment of the allowances, which were to come with promotion, affected about 50 policemen serving in the hospitals.

It was gathered that the policemen, who finished their Ordinary Diploma and Higher National Diploma training from the Nigerian Army School of Medical Sciences since 2008 and 2009, were still in the rank and file.

Our correspondent was told that the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Medicals, in 2009, Dr Dax Uzu, had compiled the names of the policemen for promotion to Assistant Superintendents of Police based on their educational qualifications.

In the promotion list,18 of the policemen had been detailed for the promotion and payment of allowances. However, it was learnt that the promotion had yet to be carried out.

In another signal, CB:4001/NPMS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.4/18, sent in February 2014 and obtained by our correspondent, the policemen serving in the hospitals were asked to produce evidence of their qualifications for promotion and for the payment of their allowances.

However, no action had yet to be taken on the signal.

In November 2015, another signal, CE:2300 NPMS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.2/21, came from the Force Medical Officer, Abuja, that the names of the affected policemen should be forwarded for clearance.

It was said that a list was again forwarded, but nothing was done about it.

One of the affected policemen, who gave his name only as Bimbo, said despite not being paid the allowances, he renewed his medical licence with about N8,000 every year at the hospital.

He said, “In 2009, the then Force Medical Officer, Uzu, conducted a special promotion screening for those of us who had completed the course and assured us that our promotion would be based on police reform policy.

“However, we have yet to be promoted till now. It is over six and seven years and our course mates in the army, navy, air force and prisons service are all enjoying the full benefits of this training. Why should ours be different?

“A circular, CE:2600/FS/SHQ/ABJ/VOL.1/11 in March 2010, and PSC/40/VOL.XIII/129, issued in November 2010, stated that men who acquired HND in specialist medical field will get such promotion based on approved white paper on police reforms. So, there is no reason for us to be denied our allowances and promotion.”

A female sergeant, who was also affected said, “It is not new that policemen who underwent this course got allowances and promotion. But our names have continually been omitted. I renew my medical licence every year with my salary. Our allowances and full promotion benefits have yet to be paid for about seven years now.”

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olabisi Kolawole, however, said there was no truth in the allegation.

She said, “We do not have any such incident. If the policemen have written a petition, you can forward it to my mail and I will look at it and respond.”

Our correspondent, however, has yet to receive the reply from the FPRO on the enquiry he sent.

However, in a police signal, CB:7000/NPMS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.1/16, obtained by our correspondent, the Force Medical Officer, AIG Abuwa Adenike, said the training given to the rank and file policemen in police hospitals was not for promotion or any allowance.

 “Lecture the inspectors and the rank and file that the certificates issued to successful students from the Nigerian Army School of Medical Sciences (OND and HND) can only be used to apply for conversion to relevant medical departments.

“It is not a mandate for accelerated promotion on educational qualification,” the signal read.