By Gabriel Atumeyi
Nigeria police Retirees, under the contributory Pension Scheme in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, have appealed to the Federal Government to exempt Police Officers who were enlisted into the Force before the Pension Reform Act 2004 from the Contributory Pension Scheme considering that the military, DSS and NIA have been exempted.
The appeal was contained in a letter addressed to the Nigeria senate president, Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawal, dated April 28th 2021 and signed by Ogwor Joseph, chairman, Joseph Oguche Secretary and Joseph Abu, PRO of the group.
They said the reality in Nigeria is that the Police suffer the highest death toll as the leading internal security agency in this country, saying that they should not be treated with this level of neglect and disdain.
The group maintained that this treatment is already affecting the morale of some serving members because they are aware that they have no future and nothing to take home after 35 years of meritorious service to their fatherland
They further demanded that all Police retirees who enlisted before June 2004 should be paid their 300 per cent last annual salary as their gratuity and 80 per cent of last month salary as monthly pension with immediate effect.
“We further demand that Security Debarment Allowance should be paid to Retired Police Officers as it is done to retired military personnel. The reason being that Police Officers have also acquired some training on weapon handling, criminal intelligence gathering, the criminal investigation which if used against the state could spell a great deal of insecurity.
“As law-abiding citizens, we, therefore, demand that security debarment allowance be paid to retired Nigeria Police Officers. What is good for the goose is also good for the ganders.
“Consequent upon the above, we urge the Senate President to use his good office to intervene for the interest of serving and retired Police Officers.
“Your Excellency, one can imagine how a retired Police Officer who has served this country for 35 years meritoriously would survive with the meagre amount being paid to them as retirement benefits.