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Retired police officers have expressed frustration over the wide gap in retirement benefits between themselves and their counterparts in the military, accusing the government of neglect and unfair treatment.
The retired officers, led by former Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Maigari Dikko, revealed that while former Commissioners of Police receive a meagre pension of N73,000 per month, retired military officers of equivalent rank enjoy pensions exceeding N300,000. They described this disparity as both unjust and a potential threat to national security.
During a meeting with the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), DIG Hashimu Argungu (retd), the group raised their grievances. According to a statement from PSC spokesperson Ikechukwu Ani on Thursday, the retired officers called for immediate action to address the issue of inadequate pensions and the perceived abandonment of former police personnel.
The statement read in part: “The delegation expressed disappointment at the low pensions paid to retired police commissioners compared to their military counterparts, who receive much higher payments. They warned that in many countries, pension entitlements for military and police officers are equal, and failing to address this imbalance could lead to significant security concerns.”
In addition to their pension demands, the retired officers criticized the increasing number of police officers assigned to private residences, arguing that it weakens the ability of the force to maintain public safety. They urged the Federal Government to recall these officers and redeploy them for public security duties.
“We call on the government to withdraw the large number of police officers stationed in private homes and redeploy them to safeguard public spaces and maintain national security,” they stated.
In response, PSC Chairman DIG Argungu reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to improving the welfare of both active and retired police officers. He mentioned plans to engage retired officers in the Commission’s Quality Assurance Unit to leverage their experience in managing police personnel more effectively.
Argungu also assured the delegation that steps would be taken to ensure that the children of retired officers are given opportunities for recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force, either through the Police Academy in Wudil, Kano, or direct recruitment channels.
“Retired officers are invaluable assets to the country, and we will look into ways to improve their pension benefits,” Argungu said.
Additionally, DIG Lakanu (retd), who was present at the meeting, assured his colleagues that their concerns would be taken seriously. He pledged that the PSC would work toward addressing the issue of inadequate pensions for retired officers.
“The Commission will explore ways to intervene and bring about meaningful changes in the pensions of retired police officers,” the statement concluded.