Policemen serving in Ekiti State have declared that they would not join the rumored strike by some aggrieved police officers in the country, which has been reportedly slated for March 28, the date for the rescheduled presidential elections.
According to media reports, some aggrieved police officers, who were promoted several months ago, threatened to embark on strike nationwide if their promotion arrears are not paid before that date.
However, according to a statement issued by the Ekiti Police Command in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday, the policemen declared their non-participation in the strike at an interactive meeting with the Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu.
“The Commissioner of Police had earlier admonished them against such an action which is inimical to the well-being of the force and that the Police have achieved much under the present regime.
“They assured the Commissioner of Police that their loyalty to the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, is not in doubt and commended him for putting their welfare first by the promotion in all ranks since he assumed office, prompt payment of salaries and also the recent distribution of vehicles to the Command.
“They charged him not to be deterred by the strike threat, as all Police Officers in the country know that it is against the law establishing the force to do so”, the statement said.
It would be recalled that the first ever police strike in Nigeria took place in 2002 but it was not effective as then President Olusegun Obasanjo ordered the deployment of troops to the streets and threatened the striking policemen with dismissals and prosecutions.