Strike’ll be treated as mutiny, IG warns policemen

The Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has said the Nigeria police will not tolerate strike, work-to-rule or any form of indiscipline from its personnel.

Abba stated that any officer who disobeyed superior orders or engaged in acts of indiscipline would be arrested and sanctioned in line with the Police Regulation and the Laws of the Federation.


Apparently referring to threats by policemen to go on strike on March 28, 2015 to press home their demand for payment of their salary arrears, the IG in a statement in Abuja on Thursday explained that effort was being made to meet the welfare needs of all police personnel.

This, he added, included the payment of promotion arrears which, he said, had commenced with the payment to the promoted officers of salaries attendant on their new ranks.

The statement accused unnamed members of the public of inciting junior police officers to disrespect their oath of office and warned such individuals to desist.

The statement partly read, “It has come to the notice of the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba that some members of the public have adopted the mischievous path of inciting junior police officers to disrespect their oath of office.
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“The IG wishes to draw attention to the dangers inherent in police officers disobeying superior orders and acting outside the code of conduct. It does not portend well for public safety and security, and is a threat to our democracy.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Nigeria Police Force will never tolerate any iota of indiscipline in the form of a strike, or work-to-rule among its personnel. Any officer found to be engaged in such a despicable act will be arrested and sanctioned in line with the Police Regulation and the laws of the federation.”

Also, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 6 Command, with headquarters in Calabar, Cross River State, Mr. Tunde Ogunsaki, warned that any strike embarked upon by policemen would be treated as mutiny.