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 improve permitted for members of the Armed Forces.

In a press release 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 youngsters. Some of these kids carried placards pleading for a legislation that might assist their mother and father survive. Men and ladies who answered Nigeria’s name for many years are actually ready outdoors its legislature for Nigeria to reply theirs. Bola Tinubu needs to be ashamed that it has come to this.

“A retired Assistant Superintendent of Police sat with me and informed 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 stay.

“I’ve not been in a position to cease fascinated by a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police. After years of serving Nigeria, she went searching 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 might assist her. But what if my workers member had not recognised her? How many different retired officers are in the identical place, with nobody to name? Our intervention might assist one lady 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 should 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 might 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 kids. Under Tinubu, the value of meals, transport and medication 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 danger their lives for Nigeria whereas they marvel the right way 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 outdoors the National Assembly with their households, asking for a solution in regards to the pensions they should survive. Bola, a invoice gathering mud can’t purchase meals or medication. Tell Nigerians what you may have 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 accessible. If a vote is required, maintain it brazenly. Let each legislator’s identify stand beside the choice. These officers enforced Nigeria’s legal guidelines for many years. They mustn’t should beg outdoors 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 revealed cost dates. We will set up a pension flooring and evaluate it as the price of residing modifications. No one who spent a long time defending Nigeria ought to should promote firewood to eat or beg to purchase medication.

“We will present insured healthcare for officers in service and in retirement. An officer injured within the line of obligation will obtain therapy. 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 mustn’t 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 file of contributions and entitlements, a named contact to resolve disputes, and a reliable cost date. We will present for the Guarantee within the funds 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.”