Former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu of using police officers to protect powerful politicians and government officials only to abandon them to hardship after retirement.
Atiku 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 Nigerians, political officeholders and national institutions would be forced to protest before their welfare concerns could receive government attention.
In a statement issued by his campaign’s Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice-President accused the Tinubu administration of subjecting retired officers to a dysfunctional pension system.
He argued that the treatment of former police personnel contradicted the government’s professed commitment to tackling insecurity, insisting that those who protected the country deserved adequate protection after leaving service.
“A government that can deploy police officers to protect the powerful but cannot protect them in retirement has failed them utterly,” Atiku declared.
He wondered what hope other Nigerians who had spent their productive years in public service would have if retired police officers had to endure humiliation to demand their legitimate entitlements.
The ADC candidate also faulted Tinubu for allegedly failing to act on the Police Exit Bill, which he claimed had remained on the President’s desk since March despite persistent demands by retired officers for an improved pension arrangement.
Atiku described the situation as a disturbing case of using and dumping security personnel after years of sacrifice and service.
He disclosed that he had directed members of his team to meet with the protesting retirees and listen directly to their grievances.
The former Vice-President also unveiled his proposed Police Dignity Guarantee Plan, promising to restore gratuity and overhaul the existing pension arrangements to guarantee better retirement conditions for police personnel.
He pledged that, if elected President, he would implement the Police Pension Board Bill within 30 days of assuming office and take prompt action on the Police Exit Bill.
According to him, guaranteeing the welfare of serving officers and their financial security after retirement would improve morale and strengthen confidence in the country’s security institutions.
“Insecurity cannot be defeated while those who protect the country are denied security in retirement,” Atiku said, promising that his proposed plan would ensure police officers were properly supported throughout their careers and never abandoned after retirement.
He added that his administration would work to make Nigeria affordable again and restore dignity to those who had devoted their lives to serving the country.
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