‘Your scheme voluntary’ – Osun CP tells protesting police constables. The Community Policing Constabulary Scheme of the Nigerian Police, a Federal Government initiative to enhance local security, is a volunteer service, according to the Osun State Police Command.
It said that the program was for those with past paid jobs who wanted to use their spare time to help the police in local areas.
This was announced in a press release issued on Tuesday by Olawale Olokode, the commissioner of the Osun State Police, and signed by Yemisi Opalola, the command spokeswoman.
Recall that several program participants protested the non-payment of their 18-month stipend in Osogbo early on Tuesday.
Members of the Community Policing Constabulary Scheme in Osun who were protesting began their demonstration at the well-known Oke-Fia roundabout and marched via Alekuwodo and Olaiya intersection.
“The plan seeks to encourage community cooperation in crime control via the presence of respected members of the public, with sources of livelihood, working with the Force under the scheme to give voluntary service for better and improved policing within their areas,” the statement reads.
“The Osun State Command Commissioner of Police, CP Olawale Olokode, psc, reiterates the fact that the plan is voluntary and that no payments have been made to anyone covered by it, nor have paid conditions of appointment been negotiated before it began.
However, the State government or local government where they are employed may choose to provide stipends to the members of the special Constabularies that they have hired for this job in their State. This does not conflict with or alter the structure of the plan.
The statement further stated that the Osun Commissioner of Police met with scheme participants later on Tuesday and informed them that their decision to stage a public demonstration against the non-payment of salary had any justification because it was not covered under the Principle Agreement.
The statement added, “They all vowed to abide by the norms of engagement and they complimented the CP for his fatherly actions.”
