Protesting constabularies not entitled to salary-Osun CP

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

Osun State Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode has said that the Police Special Constabulary scheme is voluntary.

According to him, the constabularies are not entitled to salary payment.

Olokode was reacting to a protest by 480 police officers on Wednesday in Osogbo over alleged non-payment of their salaries.

In a statement signed by the command’s spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola on Thursday, Olokode said the scheme is voluntary and only for gainfully employed individuals.

He maintained that no assurance of payment was given to individuals under the scheme.

He said: “The Community Policing Constabulary Scheme of the Force is a purely voluntary service which is Federal Government initiative to improve security at the grassroots through training and incorporating individuals with prior paid employment who desire to spend their spare time assisting the police in its simple police tasks within their various communities.

“It should be noted that, the scheme is to promote community partnership in crime control via the presence of respected members of the public, with sources of livelihood, partnering with the Force under the scheme to render voluntary service for better and improved policing within their communities.

“The scheme is voluntary and no payments were agreed with the individuals under the scheme neither were paid terms of appointment discussed prior to its commencement. 

“Notwithstanding, the state government, or local government where they are serving may decide to give stipends to the members of the special constabularies recruited by them for this assignment in their State, which does not interfere or change the constitution of the scheme.”