VIDEO: Retired police officers protest in Calabar, demand exit from CPS

 

 By  Tina Agosi Todo | The Guardian

Despite heavy downpour, retired police officers under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) on Monday staged a peaceful protest in Calabar, calling on the Federal Government to exempt the Nigeria Police Force from the controversial pension scheme.

The retirees, led by Elder Ofem Mbang (DSP, Rtd), carried placards and sang solidarity songs, urging President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), and other stakeholders to address their plight.

They expressed deep frustration over the IGP’s alleged indifference, despite numerous representations and engagements with the National Assembly.

In a nine-point petition addressed to President Tinubu, the retirees criticised their continued inclusion in the CPS, describing it as “deadly, obnoxious, and dehumanising.”

The letter was endorsed by Mbang, CSO Obeten Uket (Rtd), SP Jarlath Abang (Rtd), DSP Daniel Ochang (Rtd), ASP Paul Udo-Inyang (Rtd), among others.

They accused successive IGPs of failing to provide the Presidency with truthful briefings on the hardship the scheme has brought upon retired police personnel, insisting that personal interests had taken precedence over institutional welfare.

“There have been several reports and public hearings on this matter, yet the IGPs have lacked the courage to tell the President the truth about our condition,” the petition stated. “The scheme has impoverished us within our communities and even in our own families, making it difficult to meet basic financial and health obligations.”

The protesters demanded the establishment of an independent police pension board to manage gratuities and pensions, alongside the revocation of the NPF Pensions Ltd license, which they described as “a conduit for fraud.”

“If the CPS is truly beneficial, why did the AIGs, DIGs, and IGPs exempt themselves from it?” they queried.

They further urged the Federal Government to improve police welfare for both serving and retired officers, revive police mechanical workshops, fuel dumps, and logistics stores nationwide.

They also demanded the payment of the debarment allowance extended to the military and intelligence agencies.

“We plead with President Tinubu, the Senate President, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives not to be misled by serving and former IGPs who claim all is well.

“The reality is that both serving and retired police officers remain poorly motivated and neglected,” they added.

Receiving the protesters at the State Police Headquarters, Diamond Hill, Calabar, the Commissioner of Police, Rashid Afegbua, assured them that their concerns would be forwarded to the IGP.

“We are almost on your side of the divide, retirement, and what you are doing is right, asking peacefully for government attention. I can assure you that the IGP is concerned and is actively engaging to ensure that this pension issue receives the attention it deserves,” Afegbua said.

The CP commended the retirees for their orderly conduct and promised to communicate their grievances to the IGP.

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