RULAAC petitions police affairs minister over 8-month unpaid promotion arrears for South-East officers
By Ishaya Ibrahim
A civil society organization, the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), has petitioned the Minister of Police Affairs, demanding the immediate payment of eight months’ promotion salary arrears owed to Nigeria Police Force officers promoted from Sergeant to Inspector in the South-East Zone.
The petition, dated February 19, 2026 and signed by RULAAC’s executive director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, alleges that the affected officers who were promoted with effect from 8 June 2016, have not received the arrears covering June 2016 to January 2017, despite the promotions taking effect nearly a decade ago.
According to the petition, while payment of the higher Inspector salary scale began for the officers in February or March 2017, the corresponding arrears for the preceding eight months remain unpaid exclusively in the South-East Zone. The petition states that officers in other parts of the country reportedly received these arrears, raising concerns over selective or uneven implementation.
The group highlighted discrepancies in the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), noting that no arrears appear on the affected officers’ salary records, and inquiries have been met with claims that payments were already made—without any supporting evidence or payment advice provided.
The petition describes the non-payment as a violation of constitutional rights to fair remuneration, principles of administrative fairness, and non-discrimination. It warns that the prolonged withholding of earned entitlements undermines morale, welfare, and professionalism in the Nigeria Police Force, running counter to ongoing police reform and welfare improvement initiatives.
Among the key reliefs sought are:
*A forensic audit of IPPIS records for all officers promoted on 8 June 2016 from Sergeant to Inspector in the South-East Zone.
*Verification of whether the arrears were computed, funds released, and—if released—where the funds were credited.
*A state-by-state zonal breakdown of arrears payments for the affected promotion batch.
*Immediate disbursement of outstanding arrears to unpaid officers.
*Establishment of a transparent grievance redress mechanism for salary and promotion-related complaints within the Force.
Nwanguma emphasized that the issue extends beyond financial arrears, touching on broader themes of accountability, equity, and trust in institutional processes.
The petition calls on the Honourable Minister to treat the matter with urgency and to acknowledge receipt while outlining steps to be taken.
