The protestors complained that they have not been paid any salary by the state government since the completion of their training in April 2021.
The Kwara State Police Command has reacted to a protest by some Police Special constabularies over alleged non-payment of salaries.
Some youths recruited as constabularies into the Nigeria Police Force to complement the police in maintaining security in the state last Saturday staged a protest in Ilorin over the nonpayment of 16 months’ salaries allegedly owed them by the state government.
The Special Constables staged protests in strategic areas of the state capital including Challenge, Post Office and Ahmadu Bello Way to Government House, shouting “Kwara state government, pay us our salaries for 18 months.”
Some of the protesters rode on motorcycles carrying three passengers each while others who dressed in black police uniforms covered their bodies with leaves as they marched along the streets.
The protestors complained that they have not been paid any salary by the state government since the completion of their training in April 2021.
The protest, which went viral online, caused serious gridlock along the Popular Ahmadu Bello Way in Ilorin.
However, in a press statement signed by the Kwara police command spokesperson, SP Okasanmi Ajayi (anipr), the police authorities said that the constabularies who protested in Ilorin were not placed on monthly remuneration like the conventional policemen and that they were so briefed at the point of recruitment.
The statement was titled; “Re: Viral Video On Facebook Of Policemen Protesting Non-Payment Of Salary In Kwara State.”
He said the protestors in the footage were constabularies and not engaged on a full-time basis.
The statement read, "The Kwara State Police Command wishes to dissociate herself from a video already spiralling on Facebook, regarding a protest by some purported policemen over the non-payment of one year salary.
"For purposes of clarification, the characters seen in the video are police special constabularies recruited to complement the operation of community policing. It is important to state that the concept of community policing and recruitment of special constabularies is voluntary, meaning they are not on monthly remuneration like the conventional policemen."
"This much the constabularies were briefed before taking up the job, besides, the job is not a full-time job."
"The commissioner of police Kwara State, CP Assayomo psc (+) wishes to state categorically, that the police are not owing any policeman or woman any salary, nor is the police owing the special constabularies salary. Therefore, members of the public are advised to disregard the viral video as it was designed to embarrass the police and to draw undue sympathy from the public."
"The men and women of the special constabulary are at liberty to honourably disengage from the service if they so wish."