Governor Godswill Akpabio has harped on the need for National Assembly to enact a law for better welfare package for members of Nigeria Police Force in the country as a way of motivating them to perform their official duty creditably.
Akpabio, who stated this Monday when the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Zone 6, Calabar, AIG Mark Idakwu, paid him a courtesy visit at Governor’s Office, Uyo, bemoaned the paltry welfare packages of police men.
He described the police duty as hazardous in nature and reasoned that since the police were exposed to dangers, there was need to increase their welfare package, stating that “When I am elected into Senate, I will legislate on a law to give better welfare package to the police”.
The Governor particularly noted that the police men worked under severe conditions, stating that “In the face of insurgency, it is difficult for the police men to man all security posts because they are few”.
Akpabio, however, commiserated with the families of police officers who lost their dear ones in trying to keep the country safe and lauded the police force for working with other security outfits to rid the state of bad eggs, saying that “There is cooperation between the people and the police and that is why the crime rate is highly reduced”.
The Governor further stressed the need to deploy more resources for the training and recruitment of more police men to curb the increasing wave of criminal activities”.
He used the forum to advise the police men not to compromise with criminal elements but to expose criminals in the society, saying that “Do not hide some criminals who join the police force to hide under its cloak to perpetrate their criminal tendencies. Do not hide the bad eggs”.
The Governor congratulated the AIG on his posting to the zone, but urged him to be circumspect with sponsors of criminals, revealing that “While some ordinary citizens need friendship, criminals need relationship. It is not an easy to refuse gifts, but you have to be careful with some people bringing gifts to you so that you may not be influenced or biased in the discharge of your official duty”.
While commending the Commissioner of Police in the state, Gabriel Achong for effective policing and tackling of crimes in the state, he announced the donation of additional 30 new vehicles to Nigeria Police Force in the state.
Earlier, Idakwu, who had congratulated the Governor on his development strides in the state and for fostering a cordial working relationship with the police, thanked him for donating 30 new vehicles to the police in the state, hinting that soon the Inspector-General of Police would visit the state to commission the vehicles.