Tinubu has abandoned retired police officers –Atiku

From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

Former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu of abandoning retired police officers to a dysfunctional pension system, saying the plight of personnel who devoted their working lives to protecting Nigerians exposes the Federal Government’s failure to guarantee their welfare after retirement.

Atiku, in a statement issued by the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, described as disgraceful the continued protests by retired police officers at the National Pension Commission (PenCom) over their pension entitlements and other retirement benefits.

He said it was unacceptable that officers who risked their lives protecting citizens, political officeholders and national institutions should be compelled to stage protests before their legitimate demands could receive government attention.

The former Vice-President accused the Tinubu administration of subjecting retired officers to a broken pension system, arguing that the treatment of former security personnel contradicted the government’s professed commitment to tackling insecurity.

“A government that can deploy police officers to protect the powerful but cannot protect them in retirement has failed them utterly,” he said.

Atiku maintained that the difficulties confronting police retirees reflected a wider failure to adequately protect public servants who had spent their productive years serving the country. “If police officers who served this country must endure humiliation to demand a fair pension, what hope is there for other Nigerians who have spent their working lives in public service?” he queried.

He also faulted President Tinubu for allegedly failing to act on the Police Exit Bill, which, according to him, had remained on the President’s desk since March, despite the persistent demands of retired officers for an improved pension arrangement.

Atiku condemned what he described as the administration’s “use and discard” treatment of officers who had spent their careers protecting Nigerians, including those occupying political offices, only to be neglected when they required support in retirement.

He disclosed that he had instructed members of his team to meet with the protesting retirees and hear their concerns directly, stressing that the welfare of serving and retired security personnel should be central to any credible strategy for addressing insecurity.

The ADC candidate said his proposed Police Dignity Guarantee Plan would prioritise the welfare, retirement security and dignity of law enforcement officers, including the restoration of gratuity and reforms to the existing pension arrangements.

He promised to implement the Police Pension Board Bill within 30 days of assuming office, alongside prompt action on the Police Exit Bill, to ensure that officers were not subjected to financial hardship after years of service.

According to him, improving the conditions of police personnel during active service and guaranteeing their financial security in retirement would strengthen morale and reinforce public confidence in the country’s security institutions.

“Insecurity cannot be defeated while those who protect the country are denied security in retirement. My Police Dignity Guarantee Plan will ensure that officers who serve Nigeria are properly supported throughout their careers and are not abandoned when they retire.

“We will make Nigeria affordable again and restore dignity to those who have spent their lives serving it,” Atiku stated.