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joftech (m)
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Shouldn't we legalize Bribe taking by Nigerian Policemen?
I used to wonder if it could be possible for us to legalize "rogering" our policemen.
It has become a way of life so what stops us.
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hot-angel (f)
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Are you trying to promote "crime"? Instead of finding "cure" or a way to stop it, you r thinking of how to legalize it.
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whizkid (f)
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You can't beat them, join them? My dear, what should come to your mind is how we can sanitize the Nigeria Police and not encourage them to take bribe. In case you don't know both the receiver and giver of bribes are guilty. Legalizing bribe taking is like legalizing corruption which is what has eaten deep into our system and has destabilised it. The other day, a clergy was shot dead by a trigger happy fella, who calls himself a policeman because the guy refused to give him N20 bribe. The police who is suppose to enforce the law, are the ones breaking it.
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Jakumo (m)
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Good day, esteemed forumites, this is Jakumo on final approach requesting permission to touch down at NairaLand International Airport, with my opening submission being on the topic of bribe-collecting policemen on Nigerian Roads.
I support the idea of regulating and taxing the "toll fees" collected by policemen on Nigerian roads, since the salaries of many civil servants, including the police, are rarely paid on time. Considering that the police are armed, it behoves a wise road user in Nigeria to do his or her best to keep the boys with the loaded AK's in a good mood, so as to minimize the odds of an "accidental discharge" as one drives past the checkpoint.
The only procedural drawback I can see with the idea of taxing policemen's highway income would be this : Who will be in charge of collecting that revenue, and how will the tax be assessed, given the inevitable reluctance of the boys in black to fill out income declaration forms ?
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joftech (m)
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Jakumo God bless you for your insights. What really inspires me to suggest this is that around 3AM last night i went out and i saw these men with their rickety patrol van going round the town. Most of those crying foul over N20 were with their wife and children, but these guys where in the rain trying to see who goes there and make sure would be trouble maker have some fear of been sighted. On number of occasions many of those on the highway get killed in drivebys by armed robbers and smugglers, yet we only see that as their punishment  . If we legalize it and demystify the giving of N20 to these people it will reduce the possibility of them discharging at any fucking time, or do you want someone with no assurance of how he can calm the frayed nerves of a nagging to be smiling at you went you fail to do his bidding on the road. I see it as a "motivational token" not a bribe, if we call it a bribe we are really misssing something. We must only make them know that it's going to be a free giving, not to be forcibly taken from people as it is now. Marijuana was legalized in The Netherland and i know it will be just like cigarette in 10 years time, so what really stop us from putting smiles on the faces of some under-motivated "hard workers". |
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Motee (f)
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I don’t think the N20 should be legalised because not all of them agree to take that, some of them take more than that depending where you are going among the Commercial Buses. If it is legalised, then we are asking for more trouble which might even lead to death from straight bullet for those who don't have this N20 a times.
It might be a motivational token to the educated people but definitely not to most of them who knows nothing about it.
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salako
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i don't know how it works in Nigeria, but it appears to me that tipping police is the norm. in America tipping waitresses is essential because they don't earn enough without tips. i assume the Nigerian cops can't live on their wages and that's why the need to solicit cash. So why not tax people fairly and raise cops wages? or are they just greedy people? |
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angela k (f)
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Please let it not be legalized. If already the police kill people because of their refusal to give bribe, talkless of when it is legalized? what will become of us?  |
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layi (m)
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What is wrong is wrong.
We might as well legalize stealin since some people can't afford to put foods on their table and they must eat.
The cops have got no excuse. They are not the only ones not paid early. Teachers and other civil servants suffer same fate.
The police have taken to this heinous crime because they handle "mr death".
I even wonder what police are doing with bazuka..they aint soldiers. A cop is supposed to be with sticks or at most pistols (if patrolin' volatile areas)
Legalizing every wrong simply because u can't fight it only shows how parochial u are. Learn from others because there's no problem without a solution.
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whizkid (f)
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The policemen signed up for the job voluntarily. Are we then suppose to pay them for doing their job? I sometimes give money to policemen when they stop me,(at least to those of them who beg for it) after discovering that they've got nothing on me. Nobody should be compelled to give them anything extra for doing their job. What we should do is to campaign that they get better pay and better living conditions.
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klex (m)
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What exactly is the point of this thread?  Please, provide us with the possible merits of legalising bribery/crime. |
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Jakumo (m)
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Klex, the point of the thread, from the standpoint of those who are willing to accept the practice of tipping Nigerian policemen, is that irrespective of the moral or legal arguments to the contrary, an armed man kept in a good mood presents much less of a threat to road users than would an armed man annoyed by a bribe not offered.
Until such time as the salaries of the Nigerian Police force are paid regularly and on schedule, the existential question that should over-ride others in the mind of Nigerian road users must be whether they are prepared to risk their lives to become unarmed moral enforcers to armed men who are rarely held accountable for the use to which their weapons are applied.
I personally would rather part with some loose change than join the brave folks who chose to argue at checkpoints and are now no more. That is the reality on the ground in Nigeria despite our wishes for a better state of affairs. Change, when it comes, will begin at the top, and not out on the mean streets.
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bambi (m)
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dont call it bribe. it is a tip which means to insure promptness. it means you are always prompt at your engagements. the police will ot delay you.
any way the tips should be categorised and pegged at 100 naira. danfo drivers N20, pesronal cars N50 (exclusuive of luxury cars) trucks N70 and theives N100.
if we categorise these tolls there will be less problems and the police will have a rough estimate of his daily take home. the drivers and owners will also have an idea of how much to move around with everyday
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joftech (m)
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any way the tips should be categorised and pegged at 100 naira. danfo drivers N20, pesronal cars N50 (exclusuive of luxury cars) trucks N70 and theives N100.
Luxury cars like Hummers, Limos, Bently and Rolls should be made to part with N1,000. |
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Motee (f)
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@Joftech & Bambi: I like your break down of payment. Very funny.
We are still not save sha!
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Greatpeter (m)
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I shake my head for everyone trying to justifying the police over bribe taking.
Either they are under the rain at night is not the issue.
It's the job they signed for and they are paid for it.
There is no job without it's associated risks.
I work under rain at times, should I demand more from the people I take care just because I'm under the rain when I'm being paid for the same job?
When they wake me up at night should I fume when i'm being paid for it?
Let's not justifying the corrupt police let's call a spade a spade.
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