National Industrial Court rules that Police Constabularies are owed four years of unpaid stipends.
In a landmark ruling, the National Industrial Court in Abuja has ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Police Service Commission (PSC) to pay Police Constabularies four years of unpaid salary arrears. The court directed the authorities to pay each Constable N54,566 per month, covering the period from January 2021 to May 2024.
The judgment, delivered on Wednesday by Justice Rakiya Haastrup, was a victory for the Constabularies, who had been engaged in community policing and intelligence gathering for the past four years. Despite their service, the Constabularies had not been compensated as promised by the police.
Sebastine Hon (SAN), the lawyer who represented the Constabularies, argued in court that the police had unlawfully withheld the monthly stipends, which had been agreed upon when they were recruited. The Constabularies were trained, provided with uniforms, and deployed across various states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), yet they had not received any financial support.
The Constabularies were not only denied their monthly stipends, but they also claimed that the lack of compensation had placed them in a difficult position. The plaintiffs stated that they were unable to meet their basic needs, and some had even lost their lives due to the dangerous nature of their work. According to their lawyer, seven Constabularies had already died in the course of their duties.
The Police had previously claimed that the services of the Constabularies were voluntary, but the court did not accept this argument. Justice Haastrup agreed with Hon’s position that the Constabularies had entered into a contractual relationship with the police, which included the payment of monthly stipends. The Constabularies had tendered documents showing that, at the time of their engagement, the police had promised to compensate them at a rate similar to that of a regular Constable in the Nigeria Police Force.
In her judgment, Justice Haastrup emphasized that the Constabularies had been legally employed and were entitled to the agreed monthly stipends. She noted that while the exact amount of the stipends had not been fixed by the Police, the Constabularies were entitled to receive a basic allowance of N54,566 per month, effective from January 2021.
“The plaintiffs have established that there is a contractual agreement of employment between them and the Police,” Justice Haastrup ruled. “Therefore, they are entitled to the monthly stipends, and the IGP must fix the exact amount due to them within two months of this judgment.”
The court also ordered that the Constabularies be issued with letters of appointment, acknowledging their roles as official members of the police force. These letters, along with identity cards and uniforms, should have been provided to them earlier. However, it was clear that the Constabularies had been performing their duties for years without this formal recognition.
In response to the court’s decision, Sebastine Hon (SAN), counsel for the Constabularies, expressed satisfaction with the ruling and appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Hon called on the president to ensure that the IGP follows through on the payment, considering the vital services the Constabularies have provided to the country.
“This judgment is a victory for our clients, but it’s only the first step. We now urge President Tinubu to intervene and ensure the IGP honors the court’s decision,” Hon said after the ruling.
The ruling has been hailed as a major step towards accountability in the police force and a victory for the Constabularies who have worked diligently without financial compensation. The case also sheds light on the challenges faced by members of the Nigerian police who, despite their dedication, often face exploitation and neglect.
The Police Constabularies, who were tasked with gathering intelligence and maintaining security in various communities, now await the payment of their arrears, which the court has ordered to be paid immediately.
