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Just in: Police reportedly order personnel to contribute N3bn into POWA
The Nigeria Police Force has asked its personnel to pay what it tagged “2025 Police Officers’ Wives Association due”.
POWA is led by the wife of the Inspector General of Police, Elizabeth Egbetokun.
A signal obtained by SaharaReporters showed that officers from the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) would pay N12,000 each while Inspectors and rank and file are expected to pay N6000 each.
They were ordered to pay the money in cash on or before 20th of February, 2025 unfailingly.
“COMPOL directs that all officers and men attached are to pay 2025 POWA DUE of N12,000 for OFFICERS and N6,000 for INSPECTORS AND RANK AND FILE respectively, on or before THURSDAY 20/02/2025 unfailingly. Officers are to report to S/O/ADMIN OFFICE for payment,” the signal read.
Nigeria’s current police strength is just over 380,000 personnel.
However, some officers have kicked against the payment, describing it as extortion and a means to enrich the IGP’s wife.
“If the money is lawful, they should remove it from our salaries. They are asking my rank upward to pay N12,000 while Inspector down to Constable will pay N6000 nationwide. That’s over N3billion in total,” an officer told SaharaReporters.
“There’s a mandatory POWA fee that were forced on all police officers now and It’s an illegal due to extort us,” an Inspector added.
Calls put across to Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, were not picked nor returned.
The IGP Egbetokun has been in a runny battle with senior police officers due for retirement, asking them to leave the force, although he also is due for retirement since 2024.
Recall that a mutiny was brewing within the Nigeria Police Force, as over 200 senior officers were refusing to retire despite being found to have falsified their birth records.
It was learnt that some of the officers had been serving for up to 44 years and that the development had led to tensions between Egbetokun and the Deputy Inspector General of the Federal Investigation Department, Dasuki Galandanchi.
Galandanchi is seeking a two-year extension, citing the precedent set by Egbetokun, who was granted an extension despite being due for retirement last year.
Galandanchi is set to retire next month, but SaharaReporters learnt that the police IG Egbetokun was not keen on having Galandanchi around due to concerns about his personal conduct and behaviour. He has been described as having a reckless lifestyle and a larger-than-life demeanour.
“Galandanchi is stating that if he must retire, Egbetokun must also retire,” one of the sources privy to happenings in the Force said.
“He is at war with Egbetokun over the issue and has requested for two-year extension.”
On July 23, 2024, SaharaReporters reported that the Nigerian Senate had passed a controversial amendment bill to extend Egbetokun’s tenure beyond September.
The Nigerian Senate passed the Police Act (Amendment) Bill 2024 to amend the Police Act of 2020.
President Bola Tinubu had sent the Police Act Amendment Bill to the House of Representatives, proposing changes to the tenure of the IGP.
SaharaReporters reported on Friday, January 31, 2025 that the PSC had approved the immediate retirement of senior police officers who were over 60 years old or had served for 35 years.
The PSC had approved the retirement of the senior officers at its first extraordinary meeting.
By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has appointed Rep. Ibrahim Ayokunle Isiaka as the new Deputy Chief Whip.
Rep Isiaka who represents Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency of Ogun State under the All Progressives Congress (APC), steps into the role following the passing of the former Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga, earlier this year.
Speaker of the House, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, confirmed Isiaka’s appointment during Tuesday’s plenary session, stating that it followed consultations with the APC caucus and other stakeholders from the Southwest.
Prior to this appointment, Isiaka served as Chairman of the House Committee on National Planning and Economic Development. Since joining the House in 2015, he has held key positions, including Chairman of the Committee on Ecological Funds, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Governmental Affairs, and leadership roles in several Ad Hoc Committees.
News
More headache for Nigerians as CBN imposes N600 charge on every N20,000 withdrawn from another bank’s ATM
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The apex bank in Nigeria, CBN, has imposed a withdrawal charge of between N100 and N600 for every N20,000 worth of interbank ATM withdrawals.
The three free monthly withdrawals that customers enjoy on interbank ATM withdrawals.
According to a CBN circular, FPR/DIR/GEN/CIR/001/002 with title, ‘Review of Automated Teller Machine Transaction Fee,’ dated February 10, 2025, the new fees would take effect March 1, 2025.
The Apex Bank said, “In response to rising costs and the need to improve the efficiency of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) services in the banking industry, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reviewed the ATM transaction fees prescribed in Section 10.7 of the extant CBN Guide to Charges by Banks, Other Financial and Non-Bank Financial Institutions, 2020 (the Guide)”.
The CBN said customers withdrawing at the ATM of their financial institution in Nigeria would not be charged.
“Withdrawal from another institution’s ATM in Nigeria (Not-On-Us): On-site ATMs (within bank premises): A fee of N100 per N20,000 withdrawal will apply,” the apex bank further directed.
For Off-site ATMs (outside bank premises), the apex bank said a charge of N100 plus a surcharge of not more than N500 for every N20,000 withdrawal would be applicable.
It said that international withdrawals would be based on the exact amount imposed by the international acquirer.
The CBN said, “This review is expected to accelerate the deployment of ATMs and ensure that appropriate charges are applied by financial institutions to consumers of the service.
“Accordingly, banks and other financial institutions are advised to apply the following fees with effect from March 1, 2025.”
By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has directed the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to put the planned increase in telecom tariffs on hold until service quality improves.
This resolution was sequel to a motion of urgent public importance on the “NEED FOR THE NIGERIAN COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION NOT TO APPROVE THE IMPENDING HIKE IN THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS TARIFFS”, by Rep. Obuku Oforji, member representing Yenagoa/Kolokuma Opokuma Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State on Tuesday T plenary.
Rep. Oforji recalled that after a meeting with mobile network operators in Abuja on January 8, 2025, the minister hinted at an impending tariff hike. According to him, telecom companies have been pushing for an increase, with some proposing a 100 percent hike. However, Tijani clarified that while there would be an increase, it would not be as high as 100 percent, and the NCC would determine and announce the new rates.
The lawmaker explained that telecom operators justified the planned hike by citing rising investment costs, the need for better network infrastructure, and the increasing demand for digital services in sectors such as education, banking, and healthcare.
Rep. Ibrahim Isiaka Appointed Deputy Chief Whip of House of Reps
More headache for Nigerians as CBN imposes N600 charge on every N20,000 withdrawn from another bank’s ATM
Reps Urge FG to Stop Planned Telecom Tariff Increase
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