Group demands better welfare for policemen

Election observers from the CLEEN Foundation have said the issue of poor welfare package for security agents on election duty is capable of making them vulnerable to compromise.

The Programme Director of the foundation, Mr. Chinedu Nwagu, said this in a preliminary report issued by the group on the conduct of the governorship election held in Osun State on Saturday.

The report was read to journalists at a news conference in Osogbo on Monday. A Deputy Director from the Police Service Commission, Mr. Adeola Albert, was also present at the briefing.

He said the issue of poor welfare was what forced some security personnel into sleeping on mats on school premises and in open spaces.

Despite few shortcomings, Nwagu said the election was peaceful and successful.

Nwagu said, “Security agencies are urged to plan ahead of each election and ensure adequate logistics provision for personnel it would deploy to carter for their welfare while on electoral duty to minimise their vulnerability to compromise.”

The group said it observed a scuffle between the police and soldiers at a check point close to Unit 001 Ward 002 at Idi Ore in Ayedire Local Government Area.

The group, which condemned the deployment of masked security personnel for election duty, also decried the harassment of some observers by security agents.