Police retirees lament plight over pension scheme, petitions Senate
By Olalekan Awojodu
The Nigeria Police retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) has lamented worsening experience and crass neglect of their welfare under the scheme.
According to a petition signed by Chief Superintendent of Police, Yakubu Jimoh Abdul, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mathew Agada and Assistant Superintendent of Police, Aleriwon Jacob, the retirees noted with dismay their experiences under the scheme, adding that ‘it was becoming worse and unbearable”
They petitioned the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan in a letter dated 28th, April, 2021 where specific demands were made.
The Officers appealed to the Senate President to intervene in the interest of retired and serving police officers.
Some of their demands as contained in the petition includes: exemption from the Contributory Pension Scheme and payment of security debarment to retired Police Officers as it is done to retired military personnels.
The petition partly reads; “Sir, further to our earlier petitions to you dated 24th August, 20l8 and…..? respectively, we wish to inform you that the condition of Nigeria Police Retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme is becoming worse each passing day”
“The National Pension Commission, the NPF Pension and the Police authority have bluntly refused to see to the welfare of Police retirees”.
” From their actions, it can be deduced that they expect that police officers should simply die immediately after retirement.”
” We want to state on behalf of the entire Pre-2004 officers who enlisted before the enactment of Pension Reform Act 2004 that, “we disassociate ourselves from the representation made before the 8th NASS by the then IGP MD Abubakar Rtd, through the Commissioner of Police Legal”.
They demanded a return to the benefits accrued pension scheme which guarantees 300 percent gratuity payment to retired officers. The retirees said ” it is disgusting seeing retired officers in other security formations on equivalent ranks collecting huge gratuity and monthly sums” The disparity, they lamented, “is unacceptable”
