By Wisdom Patrick, Senior Correspondent, Lagos
Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:16:00

According to Daily Independent sources within the Force, the deduction ranges from N1500, N2000 and N3000.
The source added that the cut only affect Policemen from the rank of Constable to Inspector.
It was further gathered that, attempt to get details about the rationale for the cut met stiff resistance from officials of the Mechanized Salary Structure (MSS).
The deductions started from January this year, and have continued till date.
In Lagos, it was alleged that even the former Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Abubakar, was unable to find out the reason for the deductions.
Daily Independent investigation has revealed that the cut was solely, the handiwork of officials of the Police salary department.
Our source also said, some of the deductions were contributions to the Police Cooperative Society, Police Insurance Funds and Police Contributory Pension Scheme among others.
However, it was not clear why these series of deductions could not be spelt out for the men concerned.
A source at the salary office stated, “The policemen thought someone is toying with our money, making illegal deductions, but that is not true. Their money is kept for them because all savings they made would assist them tomorrow. For instance, with the Cooperative contributions, they can take soft loans. So they can not say someone is taking their money.”
Already, some affected officers are ready to writing the IGP about the development. They opined that the Police high command might not be aware of the development.
Another source said however that, there was no way something like that would happen and Louis Edet House would not be aware.
Effort to get the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Agberebi Akpoebi to comment on the matter was not successful, as his phone did not answer his calls.