Security Expert Seeks Pay Rise For Enugu Neighbourhood Watch
The chairmen of the seventeen local government areas of Enugu State have been advised to increase the wages of members of their respective neighbourhood watch groups to enhance adequate security in rural areas.
A security expert, Mr Edwin Ugwuja, a retired Assistant Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, disclosed this on Tuesday in an interview with THE WHISTLER in Enugu.
He commended the recent increase in the salaries of forest guards in the state, and urged the operatives to reciprocate the gesture through dedication to their duties.
He said, “What is good for the goose is also good for the gander. If the state is paying each operative of the forest guards N80, 000 monthly, the same thing should apply to neighbourhood watch members and local vigilantes at local government and community levels. That will give them more encouragement and zeal to carry out their duties diligently.
“Remember that when there is a joint taskforce, we usually use both the conventional security operatives, forest guards, neighbourhood watch members and vigilantes together. The bullet does not differentiate between these operatives.”
He also made a case for insurance cover for the operatives to secure the future of their dependants in the case of eventualities.
Advertisement
According to him, “assurance covers motivate security operatives and also a show of seriousness on the part of their employers”.
On staffing, Ugwuja said the number of operatives of the non-conventional security operatives should be commensurate with their scope of services.
Quoting him, “There should be commensurate staff strength to tackle insecurity in localities, otherwise work will overwhelm them. You can’t just employ a few hands and expect them to perform magic. It is not done.”
He further called for the establishment of security trust funds by various town unions in the state.
“Town unions should organise security trust funds. It is unfair to leave everything to the government alone. Security is everybody’s business. Natives should show patriotism.
Advertisement
“Community members should be able to willingly donate a certain percentage of their monthly or daily incomes.
“It will go a long way in helping their operations, especially in mobility, logistics and welfare.”
Our correspondent gathered that there are no uniform salaries for neighbourhood watch members and community vigilantes in the state.
