Retired Senior Police Officers Reject Protest Threat Over Police Exit Bill

By LOVETH CHIJIOKE , Lagos

The Retired Senior Police Officers Platform has distanced itself from the 11-day ultimatum and threat of nationwide protests reportedly issued to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over assent to the Police Exit Bill, insisting that dialogue and institutional engagement remain the best approach to addressing the welfare concerns of police retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

The group, led by Chairman, CP John D. Amadi (Rtd), said retired CSP Raphael Irowainu and the Police Retired Officers Forum of Nigeria (PROF) do not represent the collective position of retired police officers under the CPS and should not be seen as speaking on behalf of the larger body of retirees.

In a statement issued at the weekend, the platform noted that it had maintained structured engagements with successive governments and relevant institutions on pension-related issues for more than a decade and had recently intensified consultations with the National Pension Commission (PenCom) and other stakeholders following the withholding of presidential assent to the Police Exit Bill.

According to the group, PenCom had initiated discussions with the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force and representatives of retirees to explore reforms within the existing CPS framework capable of addressing the welfare challenges confronting retired police personnel.

The platform disclosed that, in collaboration with another retirees’ group led by CSP Lawal Manir (Rtd), it had submitted proposals to the relevant authorities and that the recommendations were currently receiving consideration.

While acknowledging the concerns of retired officers over their welfare, the retired senior officers cautioned against ultimatums, inflammatory rhetoric and actions capable of undermining ongoing negotiations or overheating the polity.

They urged retired police personnel to remain calm, law-abiding and supportive of ongoing engagements with the Presidency, National Assembly, PenCom and the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force aimed at achieving lasting pension reforms.

The platform also advised members of the public and government institutions to disregard any representation suggesting that the threat of protests reflected the position of all retired police officers under the CPS.