Retired police officers protested nationwide yesterday over poor pension and other living conditions.
The protest took place in Abuja, Plateau, Kwara, Taraba, Cross Rivers states, among others.
In Abuja, the retired police officers who defied the downpour protested at the National Assembly entrance gate, where they were joined by another group of protesters, led by the convener of the #RevolutionNow Movement, Omoyele Sowore.
The retired police officers demanded the removal of the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, in immediate reaction, however, said that he was not opposed to the NPF’s exit from CPS, adding that the issue of poor retirement benefits is also a concern for serving officers.
At the entrance gate of the National Assembly, the protesters sang solidarity songs, demanding the removal of the NPF from the CPS, saying that a situation where an average retired police officer takes home between N14,000 and N22,000 monthly as pension is unacceptable.
The protesters, comprising elderly ex-police personnel, held placards and chanted solidarity songs as they stood in the rain, insisting that their welfare and dignity had been neglected for too long.
Speaking during the protest, a retired Chief Superintendent of Police, Manir Lawal, called on the Federal Government to remove police retirees from the pension scheme, which he described as exploitative and unjust.
“We are here to ask the government to remove us from the CPS. The pension scheme is exploitative and unjust.
“I am 67 years old. Many of us here are in our 60s and 70s. We have served this country faithfully and deserve to retire in dignity. This scheme has impoverished us. It is our right to demand better,” he said.
Another protester said: “I am receiving N20,000 as pension after serving for 35 years. This is the receipt, how can anybody survive this very harsh economy with this, let alone children and family?’’
A retired ASP also said: “I am receiving N22,000. And I was an ASP (Assistant Superintendent of Police) before I retired.’’
Meanwhile, IGP Egbetokun, speaking with the protesters at Force Headquarters, Abuja, expressed sympathy for their situation, stating that the issue of poor retirement benefits is of concern to serving officers as well.
He said: “We all feel concerned. We empathise with you because we are also going to retire. I have been engaging at the highest level to ensure that something is done to improve the condition of the poor pensioner.”
IGP disclosed that he had just come from a meeting with the National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, where the welfare of retired police officers was also discussed.
“Even right now, I was just coming from a meeting with the NSA. The subject matter is the poor pension of retired officers. There are things we need to do to ensure your suffering in retirement is alleviated.
“There are a number of things we have done, steps that I have been taking, the details of which I would not like to disclose with the press present. But I just want to assure you that we empathise with you and we are not just folding our arms. We are doing a lot to ensure that something is done.
“Don’t allow the enemies of the police to use you. Be suspicious of those who pretend to be on your side. They may not mean well for you,” the number police officer cautioned the protesters.
