Buhari Announces Recruitment Of 10,000 Police Officers

President Muhammadu Buhari has announced the recruitment of 10,000 police officers to boost security in the country.

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He made the announcement in Lagos on Thursday, while delivering a speech 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”, he said.

“I have directed the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission to carry out an upward review of Police salaries and benefits”, he added.

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Buhari also said since 1999, no government has been as committed as his administration in reforming and repositioning the Nigeria Police Force and national policing architecture.

“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“In September 2020, I assented to the bill amending the Nigeria Police Act, which was originally enacted in 1943.

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“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.

Commending the Lagos governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on the newly-acquired security equipment and assets, Buhari noted that it will go a long way in boosting the morale of police officers in the state.

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“This is even more touching in the light of the unwarranted violence that ensued in the wake of the #EndSARS protests last October, which saw the security architecture in Lagos State being severely damaged,” he added.