This is really embarrassing: some police special constables in Osun State have not been paid for 18 months. ‘The constables gathered at the Oke-Fia roundabout and moved through Alekunwodo to the Olaiya areas of Osogbo, the capital of Osun State. They were dressed in the police uniform and carried placards with inscriptions like “Pay us now,” “We’re dying,” We’re hungry,” “18 months no kobo,” , etc’, Premium Times reports.
But before you go after the police leadership, there is an extended part of this story: the constables are volunteers and what that means is that they are not expected to be paid. And if that is indeed what it is, you have a real problem since bankers, oil and gas engineers, startup founders, etc are not joining this voluntary service.
In other words, those volunteering and carrying guns are largely unemployed and the government knows that. So, expecting them to work for nothing over 18 months means we are essentially saying “extort citizens in police uniforms because there is nothing for you here”. We must fix that loophole if that is what it is; phase the program out, or put them in payroll, because those who can afford to work for government for free, are not likely to wear police unicorns!
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The police spokesperson noted that the state government or local government who is capable can finance the constabularies.
“Notwithstanding, the State government or local government where they are serving may decide to give stipends to the members of the special Constabularies recruited by them for this assignment in their State, which does not interfere or change the constitution of the scheme,” Mrs Opalola added.
“The Command hereby state unequivocally that, the Community Policing Constabulary Scheme of the Force is a purely voluntary service which is Federal Government initiative to improve security at the grassroots through training 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 should be noted that the scheme is to promote community partnership in crime control via the presence of respected members of the public, with sources of livelihood, partnering with the Force under the scheme to render voluntary service for better and improved policing within their communities,” she added.
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