By Hon. Barr. Prince A. A. Oziandu
In a sane society, those who sacrifice their lives daily to defend the country should be among the best paid and most respected. Sadly, in Nigeria the reverse is often the case. A ward councillor, whose duties are largely administrative and political, earns more than a newly recruited police officer, soldier, or paramilitary officer who faces bullets, criminals, and terrorists on a daily basis.
This disparity in pay is not only unjust but also a silent factor fueling insecurity in our nation.
The Nigerian Police, the Army, and other paramilitary agencies are the pillar holding the country together. Without them, our communities would be overrun by criminals, terrorists, and insurgents. These men and women work long hours under harsh conditions, with little protection for their own lives. Many of them die in active service, leaving their families in poverty and neglect.
Yet, the reward they receive is a meagre salary — barely enough to feed, clothe, or shelter themselves, let alone their families. Compare this to the allowances, privileges, and fat salaries of councillors, legislators, and political appointees, and one begins to wonder: Where is justice?
We do not have to look far for evidence of their sacrifices: Police officers attacked at checkpoints in states like Imo, Anambra, and Niger, many of them killed by armed robbers or insurgents while earning salaries that cannot even buy them decent protection.
Soldiers ambushed by terrorists in the North-East, leaving widows and orphans behind, with little or no compensation.
Officers of the Civil Defence and Customs who have been gunned down by smugglers or bandits while trying to protect national borders and resources.
In all these tragedies, the common denominator is that those who pay the supreme price for the nation are often those at the lowest level of pay.
When security officers are poorly paid and ill-motivated, corruption and compromise creep in. Some officers are tempted to take bribes just to survive. Others lose morale, seeing that politicians — many of whom are less educated and less sacrificial — live in luxury at the nation’s expense.
This neglect directly contributes to rising insecurity, because no country can effectively fight crime when its defenders are demoralized.
If Nigeria truly values peace and security, then we must restructure the salary system. A newly recruited police officer or soldier should not earn less than a councillor whose job is largely political. Security officers should be given better pay, welfare, insurance, and protection for their families.
This is not just about fairness — it is about national survival. When we take care of those who defend us, they will be better motivated to take care of the country.
It is high time Nigeria recognized that without the police, the army, and the paramilitary, there would be no country to govern. A ward councillor may help with local administration, but it is the security officer who ensures that administration is even possible.
We must therefore demand a just salary structure where those who stand as the true pillars of the nation are given their rightful honor, both in words and in wages.
By Hon. Barr. Prince A. A. Oziandu
Political Activist & Human Rights Advocate
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