Atiku Demands Salary Review For Police Officers

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of abandoning retired cops to starvation, sickness and humiliation whereas serving officers draw down their pension financial savings to feed their households.

He demanded a right away reply on the Police Exit Bill and an pressing wage evaluate for serving officers, following the pay enhance authorised for members of the Armed Forces.

In an announcement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku stated: “Retired cops stood on the gates of the National Assembly with their wives and kids. Some of these youngsters carried placards pleading for a legislation that might assist their mother and father survive. Men and girls who answered Nigeria’s name for many years are actually ready exterior its legislature for Nigeria to reply theirs. Bola Tinubu must be ashamed that it has come to this.

“A retired Assistant Superintendent of Police sat with me and advised me his month-to-month pension is ₦29,000. ‘What would you even buy with ₦29,000?’ he requested. He stated greater than 120 members of his affiliation of retired officers have died within the final three years. Bola, sit with these officers. Look them within the eye. Tell them the way you anticipate them to reside.

“I’ve not been in a position to cease eager about a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police. After years of serving Nigeria, she went on the lookout for work and stated she would even clear to outlive. One of my media managers later discovered her begging on the Central Mosque in Abuja. He got here straight to me, and we intervened.

“I’m relieved that we may assist her. But what if my employees member had not recognised her? How many different retired officers are in the identical place, with nobody to name? Our intervention may assist one girl in that second. It couldn’t give her the safe retirement she earned.

“Bola, she rose to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police. She served this nation, but she was discovered begging for assist. Why did it take an opportunity encounter for anybody to behave? No former officer ought to need to be found in misery earlier than Nigeria remembers what it owes her.

“In Bauchi, the retired Assistant Superintendent noticed a former colleague gathering firewood to promote so he may purchase meals. People nonetheless referred to as out to him, ‘Officer.’ Imagine bearing that title after a lifetime of service whereas trying to find your subsequent meal. Nigeria remembers his uniform however has forgotten the person inside it.

“I do know serving cops who’ve withdrawn 25% of their meagre pension financial savings to feed their youngsters. Under Tinubu, the worth of meals, transport and drugs has risen past what their salaries can bear. Their pay can’t maintain them at the moment, so they’re spending the cash meant to guard them tomorrow.

“Tinubu made life costly, and even the officers he sends to confront armed criminals are being pushed into poverty. We ask them to threat their lives for Nigeria whereas they marvel find out how to feed their households and whether or not their nation will stand by them when their service ends. That is a shame.

“The Police Exit Bill was despatched to Bola in March. It is now October. Section 58 of the Constitution gave him thirty days to indicate assent or withhold it. He has given retired officers months of silence. Last week, they stood exterior the National Assembly with their households, asking for a solution concerning the pensions they should survive. Bola, a invoice gathering mud can’t purchase meals or drugs. Tell Nigerians what you’ve gotten carried out with it.

“The National Assembly should publish the invoice’s formal standing, demand an evidence for the delay and decide the constitutional steps now obtainable. If a vote is required, maintain it brazenly. Let each legislator’s title stand beside the choice. These officers enforced Nigeria’s legal guidelines for many years. They shouldn’t need to beg exterior the legislature for its members to behave.

“If this authorities is not going to finish this shame, I’ll act after I assume workplace in May 2027. My Police Dignity Guarantee Plan will start with what Nigeria already owes. We will audit and settle verified pension arrears and gratuity claims in opposition to printed cost dates. We will set up a pension flooring and evaluate it as the price of residing adjustments. No one who spent a long time defending Nigeria ought to need to promote firewood to eat or beg to purchase drugs.

“We will present insured healthcare for officers in service and in retirement. An officer injured within the line of obligation will obtain remedy. A retiree residing with paralysis is not going to be left to pay for care from a pension that can’t feed him. Families of officers killed in service will obtain well timed help. And when sickness prevents an officer from travelling, verification will come to that officer’s house. Sickness must not ever change into a cause to withhold what somebody has earned.

“We will evaluate police pay so serving officers can feed their households with out drawing down their pension financial savings. Before retirement, each officer will obtain a transparent report of contributions and entitlements, a named contact to resolve disputes, and a reliable cost date. We will present for the Guarantee within the price range and publish what has been paid.

“Police officers have given Nigeria their strength and their years. Those who protect this country must be able to protect their families. And when their service ends, Nigeria must keep its word to them.”