The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has written to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, requesting an expedited amendment to the pension law to exclude the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
Former presidential candidate and activist, Omoyele Sowore, shared a leaked copy of Mr Egbetokun’s letter in a Facebook post late Tuesday. The copy bore an stamp of the recipient dated 29 July.
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Mr Egbetokun’s move came a few days after retired police officers protested over the miserable pensions paid to them under the current system.
The protests, which have gained traction nationwide and online, have drawn attention to the plight of retired personnel under the CPS.
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In the letter, the IGP urged the National Assembly to prioritise the amendment process to enable the police to exit the current pension scheme and adopt a scheme that would better address their needs.
The police have not reacted to the exposé. The force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has not responded to an inquiry sent to him.
Mr Sowore, who played active roles in mobilising for the 21 July protest and led some of the protesters to the Police Force Headquaters in Abuja, described Mr Egbetokun’s letter to the National Assembly in a social media post as a ruse.
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Calling the letter “halfhearted”, Mr Sowore said, “It is a calculated move to calm the rising anger of retired and serving police officers nothing more than a distraction. They are feeling the heat of the #POLICEPROTEST, the very protest they swore would never happen.”
Meanwhile, Mr Egbetokum had assured retired police officers during their protest that the Nigeria Police Force was actively working to address their pension-related grievances and improve their post-service welfare.
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Mr Egbetokun who was addressing a group of aggrieved retired officers who staged the protest at the Force Headquarters and the National Assembly in Abuja expressed sympathy with the proters, noting that the welfare of retired officers remained a concern for even those currently serving.
The police chief said he had just returned from a meeting with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, where the issue of police pensions was discussed.
He stressed that the Force leadership is not ignoring the plight of retirees.
“There are things that we need to put in place to ensure that your suffering is alleviated,” Mr Egbetokun said, adding that though several steps have already been taken, he would not disclose all the details publicly.
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