NW security forces accuse authorities of delaying their integration salaries, arrears

Some security forces working in the restive North West region have been accusing authorities in the region of delaying their salary advancements and other benefits for years now.

According to a reliable source working in the Police, ever since they graduated from the police training college about 4 years ago, their integration salary, advancement and other salary arrears have not been paid although they continue risking their lives fighting separatist fighters in the region.

While speaking to CNA, the source who preferred to be anonymous revealed that authorities of the Police corps in particular, have refused to listen to their complaints but keep on sending them to fight separatists in exchange for meagre salaries.

“They don’t even think that we have families, how we feed them and pay bills. All they want is that we should keep fighting so that they should be enjoying in their comfortable offices. Since we left school in 2019, we have not received this money. All that we are managing on is the monthly salary, which is too small,” a security officer said.

The source added that some of their colleagues have paid a bribe and have received their integration salaries meanwhile a majority of them are still waiting.

The source further explained that the manager of a bank where they receive salaries told them that only top officials in the security or government can give them the go ahead. He reluctantly said there is nothing they can do at the level of banks.

This is however not the first time that security officers working in the armed conflict regions are accusing their authorities for mismanagement, malpractices and corruption. Earlier this year, some of them released a voice message on social media decrying how they were abandoned in a war area and authorities were demanding bribe before they could be relieved.

Source: Cameroon News Agency