Presidential candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has condemned President Bola Tinubu for allegedly abandoning retired police officers to a broken pension system and forcing them to fight for the dignity and security they earned through years of service.
In a statement issued by Director of Strategic Communication of ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said it was disgraceful that officers, who risked their lives protecting Nigerians had been reduced to staging daily protests at the National Pension Commission simply to make their legitimate demands heard.
Atiku said a government that could deploy police officers to protect the powerful but could not protect them in retirement had failed them utterly.
He stated that the administration’s treatment of retired officers exposed the hollowness of its claims to be tackling insecurity.
According to the former vice president, “If police officers, who served this country must endure humiliation to demand a fair pension, what hope is there for other Nigerians, who had spent their working lives in public service?”
Atiku said he was deeply troubled by the protests and had instructed his team to meet with the officers and hear their concerns directly.
He also faulted Tinubu for failing to act on the Police Exit Bill, which, according to the statement, had remained on his desk since March.
The ADC candidate condemned the government’s “use and discard” treatment of officers, who spent their careers protecting Nigerians, including political office holders, only to be abandoned when they needed support most.
Atiku said his Police Dignity Guarantee Plan would put the welfare and retirement security of law enforcement officers at the centre of his approach to tackling insecurity.
The plan included prompt action on the Police Exit Bill, restoring gratuity for police officers, and ensuring that officers were treated with dignity both during service and in retirement. He also pledged to implement the Police Pension Board Bill within 30 days of taking office.
Atiku said, “Insecurity cannot be defeated while those who protect the country are denied security in retirement.
“My Police Dignity Guarantee Plan will ensure that officers who serve Nigeria are properly supported throughout their careers and are not abandoned when they retire.
“We will make Nigeria affordable again and restore dignity to those who have spent their lives serving it.”