Security operatives guiding the presidential villa might soon go on rampage after they complained that they have been owed allowances since last year.
President Muhammadu Buhari
Security operatives attached to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, are seriously unhappy over their unpaid allowances since last year.
According to the Punch, it was gathered that under former President Goodluck Jonathan, all security agents attached to the Presidential Villa enjoyed what they called Risk Cautious Allowance.
The security officers include those of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police, Department of State Services, Nigerian Intelligence Agency, Federal Road Safety Commission and Fire Service.
It was learnt that Jonathan’s administration paid the allowance up until March last year and left those of April and May unpaid.
It is now regrets for the security agents who are very sad that since the inception of the present administration, they have not been paid.
However, after media reports said the allowance was stopped, they were assured by their bosses that the RCA had not been stopped as reported.
They were later assured that they would be paid, but were also promised that the rate would be reviewed upward. In the past, senior officers were said to be receiving about N30,000 per month while junior officers get about N25,000.
To assure the operatives of government’s readiness to continue the payment, they were said to have been asked to open bank accounts with Zenith Bank Plc where their RCA will subsequently be paid.
However, they are yet to receive anything after opening the accounts. A top Presidency official, revealed that the security operatives’ allowances had been approved in January.
Punch reports that the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, declined comment, saying the matter is a security issue.