The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Thursday, said the welfare of Nigeria’s over 318,000 police personnel remains his regime’s priority.

While noting that accommodation remains a major challenge, he said officers and men of the force will be motivated to perform their duties when their families live in decent houses and have adequate health coverage.

“I particularly note that accommodation for police officers and men is very critical and this administration has made the welfare of police officers and men, and indeed, the armed forces a top priority” Buhari said when he received the 2021 audited report and 2023 budget proposal of the Police Service Commission at the State House.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, revealed this in a statement he signed on Thursday titled ‘President Buhari receives PSC audited report, assures of improved police welfare.’

According to Buhari, “this administration has made the welfare of police officers and men a priority and police reforms a sacred duty.

“I particularly note that accommodation for police officers and men is very critical and this administration has made the welfare of police officers and men, and indeed, the armed forces a top priority.”

Emphasising the importance of quality welfare in effective service delivery, the President declared: “I know that when officers and men are posted on duty or assignments and they know that their families live in barracks with facilities, schools, clinics and a conducive living environment, their morale is boosted and they would discharge their duties with courage and efficiency.

“I am pretty aware of the problems and challenges confronting the Nigeria Police Force and the Armed Forces. The problem is relative to time and resources and this administration has done a lot with the limitations.”

While assuring the Acting Chairman that their requests would be considered, Buhari said that dwindling resources arising from fall in crude oil price and local production posed a major challenge which the present regime had to contend with.

Presenting the 2021 audited report and the 2023 budget proposal to the President, Acting Chairman of the Commission, Clara Ogunbiyi, JSC (retd.), commended the Buhari-led government for always upholding the rule of law.

She said “as members of the Management Team of the Commission, we have no other alternative than to guard this mandate jealously as expressed by the framers of the Constitution.”

Ogunbiyi revealed that the Commission has been consistent in ensuring that disciplinary sanctions are meted out to erring Police Officers; making sure officers are promoted as and when due, considering available vacancies and seniority; and ensuring that proper and fit persons are recruited into the Nigerian Police Force.

While lamenting that inadequate funding hampers the PSC’s activities, the retired Supreme Court Justice requested that the Commission’s budget be placed among the first line charge in budget allocation, as that will allow the Commission to be more effective.

Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammadu Dingyadi led members of the Commission to the presentation.

The visit comes barely 24 hours after the Federal Executive Council approved N13.32bn for insurance coverage for all police personnel from October 26, 2022 to October 26, 2023.