The House of Representatives on Tuesday resolved to probe alleged multi-billion naira deductions from the salary of some policemen in Nigeria.

Adopting a motion raised by Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe (PDP, Cross River), the House said available records showed that there were massive deductions of up to 50 percent from the salary of policemen in the country.

The practice, the House said, has been going on for some years now as policemen cannot say with exactitude their actual take-home pay monthly. It therefore resolved that an ad-hoc committee  be set up to investigate the matter and report back within four weeks.

“For so many years now, no officer could say with all certainty how much he earns every month as salary because their salaries are paid in piecemeal with massive deductions, which is as much as 50% of the actual salary,” Hon. Jarigbe said in his motion.

He alleged that for over three months, some police officers have not received their salaries and that the only official explanation given by the police authorities was that the fault was from operators of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

“For instance, a state commissioner of police who allegedly received ₦40,000 as salary a few months ago was upon enquiry told by the Police authorities that he should refer to IPPIS office in the office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

“The condition of service is deplorable, unattractive and non-conducive to productive enterprise, as on several occasions, policemen lose their lives to vicious and daring criminals who descend on innocent citizens across the country,” Jarigbe added.

He further warned that if urgent steps were not taken to stop the indiscriminate and illegal deductions from police salaries, corruption in the Nigeria Police Force would not be completely eradicated.