KEY POINTS

• Retired police officers demand pension parity with the military.
• Officers call for withdrawal of police from private homes.
• The Police Service Commission promises to improve welfare for retirees.

The difference in retirement benefits between themselves and their military counterparts has been criticised by retired police officers, who have accused the government of being careless.

Retired police decry pension disparity with military counterparts

The retired officers claim that their military colleagues receive over N300,000 in pensions each month, but former commissioners of police only receive a pitiful N73,000. According to the police, this is unfair and could pose a security risk.

During their visit to retired DIG Hashimu Argungu, the head of the Police Service Commission, the former police officers, led by retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Maigari Dikko, expressed their concerns.

Ikechukwu Ani, the commission spokesperson, released a statement on Thursday in which the retired officers demanded immediate action to rectify their insufficient retirement benefits. “Retired police commissioners receive inadequate pensions, but their military counterparts receive far larger benefits, which infuriated the delegation. They pointed out that pension benefits for police and military personnel are often comparable in other nations and cautioned that failing to resolve this discrepancy could present a major security risk,” the statement said.

Concerns were also voiced by the former officers regarding the growing number of police officers allocated to private residences, which they claim hinders the force’s capacity to uphold public order. For reasons of national security, they pleaded with the federal government to recall these police and repurpose them.

“We urge the government to immediately withdraw the numerous police officers stationed in private residences and redeploy them to ensure public security,” the officers stated.

Police Service Commission vows to address pension concerns

Argungu responded by restating the commission’s dedication to enhancing the well-being of Nigeria Police Force officers, both active and retired. In order to enhance personnel management, he revealed plans to involve a few of the retired officers in the commission’s Quality Assurance Unit.

Argungu also promised the officers that efforts would be made to assist in getting their kids recruited into the force, either directly or through the Police Academy in Wudil, Kano.

“Retired officers are invaluable assets to nation-building, and we will explore ways to improve their retirement benefits,” Argungu stated.

The group was also greeted by retired DIG Lakanu, who gave his fellow officers his word that the commission will handle the issue of insufficient pensions and that their complaints would not be disregarded, Punch reported.

“The commission will examine how it can intervene to bring about meaningful change in the pensions of retired officers,” said the statement.