The police retirees, under the auspices of the Association of Retired Police Officers, Imo State chapter, on Tuesday, in Owerri, the state capital, staged a protest to demand exit from the scheme.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the Chairman of the chapter, SP Amanze Nwakwue (retd), said that the CPS had caused several deaths among its members.
Nwakwue described the scheme as “deadly and obnoxious” and therefore demanded the establishment of a Police Pension Board that is similar to that of the military.
“This board should cater for the general well-being of all police retirees,” he said.
He also sought debarment allowance, matching the provision given to their counterparts in the military.
He said that the Nigeria Police Force operated multiple pension schemes, questioning why AIGs, DIGs and IGs exited the CPS, while others from CP downwards remained.
“If the CPS is that good, why did the police top brass exit and leave from the rank of Commissioner of Police downwards in the CPS?
“We want total exit from the deadly and obnoxious contributory pension scheme. We want the NPF Pension Limited scrapped,” he said, arguing that it was not registered to operate as a business entity.
The chairman also demanded that the N758.9 billion bond for pension liabilities be paid directly to individual retirees’ accounts and not through PFAs.
He urged President Bola Tinubu to sign an executive order for their total exit from the CPS.
According to him, such an exit is already observed for the military, NIA, DSS, and National Assembly staff.
Responding, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Aboki Danjuma, urged them to be patient, and assured them that the IG, Mr Olukayode Egbetokun and management team, were addressing the issues raised.
Describing the retirees as “our fathers and teachers,” he assured them that the IG was determined to improve the welfare and packages of retirees.
He promised that their protest letter would be delivered to Egbetokun.
