THE recent demonstration by police pensioners under the aegis of the Association of Retired Police Officers over sundry issues bordering on their pension entitlements has opened up a vista of concerns over the fate of retired public officers in the country.
The protest is the climax of discontentment among retired Nigerian workers captured under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), a policy that has unarguably denied retired civil servants the opportunity to access their pension contributions to their satisfaction, except as dictated by the operators of the scheme.
In their hundreds, the retired policemen took over some public offices, especially the Police Headquarters in some states of the federation, expressing their disgust over the inability of the authority to address their concerns, which they have expressed through various channels prior to the street protests.
The core reason for the protest is for the police authority to exit them from the scheme and allow retirees the opportunity to collect what they have contributed to take care of their families.
The protest by the retired policemen is a tip of the reactions that have trailed the scheme since its inception in 2004 following the enactment of the Pension Reform Act 2004. This act made it compulsory for workers in both the private and public sectors to participate in savings to be accessed after their retirement.
Following an amendment to the Act in 2014, the contributory rate was reviewed from 7.5 per cent, contributed equally by the government or employers, and employees, to eight per cent for the workers and 10 per cent for the employers, making it a total of 18 per cent credited to the workers.
This is a well-conceived policy that guarantees a better life for retired workers. It is intended to enhance their welfare and ensure a regular flow of income to their purse, even years after retirement.
Unfortunately, it has been pain and agony for retired public servants as the scheme appears to be inefficient, discouraging, and moral killer. Even as the authority is making explanations to justify the implementation, its toll on expected beneficiaries is damning.
For the retired police officers, the disappointment, delay in payment, and the paltry entitlement are grave. In a recent viral video, a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), IliyasuAliyu, shared his experience of how he got a paltry sum of N2.1m as gratuity after 35 years of service. Presently, his monthly pension is N35,000. The same man also revealed how one of his retired colleagues, an Inspector, collapsed on being handed over N1.5m as his gratuity.
Little wonder that the retired police officers mobilized themselves for what they dubbed ‘Mother of Peaceful Protest’. As expected, the protest, which may sound awkward and ridiculous to some, shook the police authority and created awareness of what they have suffered over the years.
These people have suffered delayed payment of their gratuity, with many left to beg and die. Others have mounting bills from rent, school fees, electricity, and debts from neighbours selling petty things and food items.
Added to this is the foreign exchange, which has devalued the Naira and rubbishes the entire sum, and irregular contributions by the government. The operators are also not helping matters as their activities are marked by corrupt practices, delayed payment, embezzlement, poor records, and stress.
Consequently, we support the protest by the retired police officers and call on the authorities to address their concerns immediately. The recent moves by the National Pension Commission and the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation to reintroduce the old pension scheme and allow workers full access to their contributions should be followed up and brought to fruition by initiating a law to back up to proposal.
Besides, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, should liaise with the appropriate authority to rescue the retired officers from the grip of the pension scheme. There is also a need to increase police salaries to further enhance their pay.
Like other retired public servants, retired policemen deserve a better life: so the protest should be a clarion call to emplace a healthier gratuity and pension for them.
