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.
A leaked copy of Egbetokun’s letter was posted on Facebook late Tuesday, bearing a stamp of the recipient and dated 29 July.
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.
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.
Meanwhile, Egbetokun 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.
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 protesters, 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,” Egbetokun said, adding that though several steps have already been taken, he would not disclose all the details publicly.
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