By Adadainfo
Following agitation of alleged indebtedness by Community Policing Constables, particularly the recent protest in Ilorin, Kwara State, the Nigeria Police, Thursday, said the job is not for unemployed Nigerians, but voluntary.
Force PRO Olumuyiwa Adejobi clarified this in a release.
He stated that, “The Community Policing Constabulary Scheme of the Force is a purely voluntary service commenced by the Federal Government to train and incorporate individuals with prior paid employment who desire to spend their spare time assisting the police in its simple police tasks within their various communities.
“It therefore came as a rude shock that members of the scheme were protesting non-payment of salaries in Kwara State recently when the ultimate purpose and rule of engagement of the scheme is to promote community partnership in crime control via the presence of respected members of the public, with a source of livelihood, partnering with the Force under the scheme to render voluntary services for better and improved policing within their communities.
“The scheme clearly delineates the roles of the Community Policing Constables, who are not direct employees/personnel of the police but of their respective communities, at both divisional and state levels, to include assisting the police in crime detection and prevention, conflict resolution, intelligence gathering and dissemination to local police commanders, maintenance of law and order, deployment to complement conventional police officers in patrolling their communal public space, advising the public on safety, crime prevention, and security tips, dealing with minor offences and social vices, working with relevant stakeholders on crime control, and traffic management and school safety duties.”
The Nigeria Police, in the release, emphasised that ‘the scheme is voluntary and no payments were agreed with the individuals under the scheme neither were paid terms of appointment discussed prior to its commencement’.
Muyiwa said, “Considering this, protest for payment has no basis. It is mischievous and ill-conceived.
“The Force, however, will be taking adequate measures to review the effectiveness of the scheme as soon as possible.”
