- Safiu Kehinde
Members of the Union of Reiterated Police Officers have called for the improvement in the retirement benefits as they reject the meagre pension paid to them after over three decades in service.
The retired officers made the call at their ongoing protest over unpaid pension in Abuja.
NPO Reported that the retired personnel, led by human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has on Monday stormed the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters in Abuja to express their agitation.
Recounting his ordeal to newsmen, Obafemi Badejo, who retired in 2024, held that police officers are being used by politicians.
While disclosing that the plight of the retired officers is beyond the Inspector General of Police, Obafemi claimed he has not received a dime since his retirement.
“I have not seen where a policeman in an African country will spend 35 years and after that you will be giving him 2.7, 2.5, 2 million which is not even enough to feed a dog. This is very sad. It is a pointer that the Nigerian politicians are using the police because what is happening today is beyond the IG’s power.
“If it is the IG that doesn’t want to settle his boys, now it has gone to the world. We have the lawmakers; we have lots of arms of the government. The President is there.
“I have not seen the reason why they should not stand up for this because some ministries are controlling the police.
“And all these politicians, when they are attached to the police, they will take care of the police specially. After a while, they will dump them.
“After your 35 years, nobody to protect you. Nothing! Totally nothing because most of the retirees in their community, they are nothing.
“You are nothing because there is nothing in your pocket. You don’t even have anything to do. You don’t even have money to feed yourself. You cannot even buy ordinary Panadol.
“For the past one year, I have not received 10 Kobo. I have worked for this country. I have used all my useful age to work for this country and after that, nothing was given to me. Then I need to voice out.” He said.
Obafemi called for Nigerians involvement in the protest which, according to him, is beyond just the retired officers.
He accused Nigerians of being silent on the plight of Police officers but quick to call them out when victimised.
He warned of more grave actions which will be worse that the #EndSARS protest.
“Nigeria can quench this now. I’m not even talking about the Police. Nigeria can quench this as a while. Otherwise, they will see another thing. It will be more than #EndSARS.
“Everybody is talking about the Police. Remember the Police boss, you can complain to them about police and they will dismiss that police. But when it comes to defending the police, they don’t do anything.
“You have the power to fire and defend. But they only use it to fire, they did not use sit defend which I don’t know the reason why. When I was there, I refused a lot of things and I believe if we can see officers like me, things will be working better.” Obafemi said.
Another aggrieved retired officers, DSP Godwin Tom, called for the intervention of the IGP and other senior officers who he claimed were orientated and guided by some of the retired officers after their graduation from Police College.
“I am saying the IG, DIGs, and AIGs, let them come to our help. They should remember that when they come out from Police Colleges, we were the ones that taught them how to write in the routinary. We were the ones that taught them police duties. Most of us we accommodated them. Most of us fed them. And now they are biting the fingers that fed them. It is quite unfortunate what kind of wickedness in Nigeria.
“I am pleading that the IG, the DIG, the AIG, they should put their mind together and come our help. They should not stand against our entitlement.” He said.
Godwin disclosed being paid N1.7 million which he partly receives on a monthly.
The meagre pension, according to him, is not enough for him to support his children and also assist his society.
He disclosed being unable to go to the village since his retirement on account of the fringe gratuity.
“I served 35 good years, I was given N1.7 million. I am not happy. I am pushed to the wall. I have children who I’m supposed to further. I have people at home that are looking for my help.
“I am supposed to be there to help in the development of my society, of my village there, but I cannot go home because of the meagre thing that is given to me on monthly basis. It is unacceptable.” The retired officer said.
Godwin further pleaded with President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians to come to their aid.
“I am pleading that Nigerians should come to our help. The President is a very good man. We worked for him. Let him come to our help. He should not pay us with a bad coin.” He added.
Other retired officers who spoke to newsmen also expressed their plights with some calling for the withdrawal of the Nigerian Police Force from the National Pension Commission (PenCom) scheme.
“Let them remove us from PENCOM and pay all our money, all our entitlement since 2007.”
“All our outstanding allowances since inception, let them calculate it and give us our money. Remove us from PENCOM. We are not after anybody. We are not for violence or abusive language.
“What we are here for is very simple. Let them remove us from PENCOM, calculate our money and give us our money and pay us our gratuity.” Some of the retirees said.
Another retiree recounted how some of his colleagues had to take up estate security jobs to make ends meet.
“The retirees in Lagos are wearing security uniform to open gate for people. For them to see food to chop.
“For eight years, politician is collecting N10 million as pension.” He said.