NSIWC declines PUNCH’s FoI request on military, police salaries, pensions
The National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission has declined the request by PUNCH Nigeria Limited for information on the current military, and police salary structures.
The commission claimed it was not in a position to provide the requested information, adding that it was constrained by the provisions of Section 11 of the Freedom of Information Act.
The request, which was filed under the FoI Act 2011, was sequel to complaints about the poor remuneration of security operatives and their alleged lack of motivation to confront the security challenges in the country.
The letter was addressed to the Acting Chairman, NSIWC, Mr. Ekpo Nta, dated October 8, 2021 and received on the same day by the commission.
But in a response, signed on behalf of the commission Chairman by the acting Director, Administration, Mrs. N Igbudu, dated October 18, the NSIWC referred inquiries on the salary structures to the Nigerian Army, the Navy, Air Force and the Nigerian Police.
The NSIWC did not state how the disclosure of the salary structures of the agencies may be injurious to the nation.
In the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests in October 2020, the president, in a live broadcast directed the NSIWC to speed up the new salary structure for members of the police force, adding that the emoluments of other paramilitary services were also being reviewed upwards.
In June this year, he again reiterated his directive to the commission to review upwards police salaries and benefits.
