By John Ikani
President Muhammadu Buhari has announced his government’s plan to recruit 10,000 new police officers to boost national security.
Buhari made the announcement on Thursday while delivering a speech in Lagos on his one-day visit for the inauguration of various projects.
“We are currently recruiting 10,000 new police officers to reinforce our personnel capacity across the country.”
“I have directed the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission to carry out an upward review of Police salaries and benefits” he added.
The President also maintained that no government since 1999 has been as committed as his administration in reforming and repositioning the Nigeria Police Force and national policing architecture.
According to him: “In 2019, I signed into law the Act establishing the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, the first in the history of the Force, to provide guaranteed funding to support Police welfare, logistics and equipment.
“In September 2020, I assented to the bill amending the Nigeria Police Act, which was originally enacted in 1943.
“This new Act, a vast improvement over the old one, among other things spells out the modalities for the implementation of a National Community Policing Scheme in Nigeria.
“This new scheme will build confidence within our local communities and make them active stakeholders in the safety and security of their environs,” he said.
