By Austin Ogwuda
Following the planned protest holding today (Monday) by retired Police Officers complaining of allegedly being shortchanged through the payment of their pensions, the Police Service Commission under the leadership of DIG Hashimu Argungu has waded in.
The Commission’s Spokesperson, Ikechukwu Ani in a press statement, Sunday, said that statement, “The Commission views the planned protest at a time there is almost a consensus that the state/condition of some retired Police Officers deserves immediate consideration and improvement as diversionary and in bad taste.
“The Chairman of the Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu (rtd) mni, has at several fora condemned the poor and discriminatory pension scheme for some categories of retired Officers and has called for a streamlined Police pension scheme.
“DIG Argungu had also made several interventions in this direction and till date, had remained an advocate of a democratised Police Pension scheme.
“The Commission believes that relevant Government Agencies are currently looking into the obvious disparity to bridge the gap. It advises that the affected Officers should consider the path of dialogue and continuous engagement rather than confrontation.
“It wishes to advise the drivers of this intended planned protest to review its intentions and return to the negotiating table in the interest of the existing peace in the country”, the statement added.
Recall that The Nigerian Union of Retired Police Officers under the Contributory Pension Scheme, Kaduna chapter, alongside 35 other chapters, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) announced plans to embark on a massive peaceful protest in Abuja today +Monday, July 21).
In a letter addressed to the Inspector General of Police the retired officers stated that the protest, described as the “mother of all peaceful protests,” is a response to the severe hardship they are experiencing under the current pension arrangement.
The statement, signed by retired Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Mannir M. Lawal Zaria on behalf of the union, stated that the retired officers are suffering from “abject poverty,” which has resulted in “rampant deaths” among their ranks.
“With most respect and honour. I retired CSP. Mannir M. Lawal Zaria, on behalf of the above-mentioned union, wish to inform you that, on the 21st of July, Monday, we are coming to Abuja for a mother of all peaceful protest.
“This is due to the abject poverty that we find ourselves in which is leading to rampant death among us. Areas to visit during the peaceful protest may include the national assembly and the force headquarters Abuja respectively”.
Also speaking, Charles Muka, a retired Superintendent of Police SP said, “IGP is the Chairman of Police CPS scheme and hence he is oppressing and suppressing retirees and serving members alike. He has even sent sign directing serving members to return their contributions to the Police pension scheme.
“The retirees have rejected IGP’s planned ranked pension plans. All we want is to exit the poverty induced scheme. Many retirees can’t afford to feed their families talk less of taking medications. Hence many die after few years and months of retirement.
“We cannot continue to lose members to death because of IGPs selfish scheme. He should therefore be dismissed to enable a more capable and efficient hand take over the Force, having displayed gross inefficiency in managing the welfare of the officers”, he stated.
