Police probe officer who resigned over two-year salary access issue

File: A Nigerian Policeman.

The Bauchi State Police Command has commenced an investigation into the resignation of a police officer who alleged that he had been unable to access his salary for two years.

The officer, identified as F/No. 524180, CPL Yusuf Aliyu, reportedly announced his resignation from the Nigeria Police Force on social media, citing his inability to access his salary.

However, the command said preliminary findings showed that Aliyu’s salary had been paid “promptly and consistently” by the police authorities.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafi’u Habib, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, saying the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, had ordered a discreet and thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the officer’s alleged salary access problem.

According to Habib, the difficulty was linked to a discrepancy in Aliyu’s Bank Verification Number, with the name associated with the BVN reportedly differing from the name on his salary account.

“Preliminary findings indicate that the officer’s salary has been paid promptly and consistently by the Police authorities.

“The observed difficulty is attributable to a discrepancy in his Bank Verification Number (BVN), as the name linked to the BVN differs entirely from the name on his salary account, thereby resulting in the restriction,” he said.

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The command, however, faulted the officer for taking his grievance to social media and announcing his purported resignation instead of using the established internal mechanisms for redress.

The PPRO said, “The Command notes with concern that the officer resorted to the use of social media to ventilate his grievance and announce a purported resignation, rather than exploiting the established internal mechanisms for redress.

“This conduct constitutes a clear violation of the Nigeria Police Force Social Media Policy and amounts to an attempt to discredit the Command and the Force at large.”

Habib added that the Commissioner of Police had reassured officers and men that their welfare remained a priority, stressing that “no genuine complaint will be left unattended.”

The PPRO said the CP had also directed personnel to comply with the Force Social Media Policy and channel their complaints through the appropriate administrative procedures.

The command reiterated its commitment to discipline, professionalism and the welfare of its personnel.