A retired Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, has urged the Federal Government to fast-track the implementation of President Bola Tinubu’s proposed pension reforms for retired police personnel.
According to him, the move would restore confidence among retirees and resolve the lingering dispute over the Contributory Pension Scheme.
This is as he urged retired police officers protesting over the Contributory Pension Scheme to embrace dialogue.
In a statement personally signed by him on Sunday, Owoseni said the President’s proposed “Option B” offered the most practical solution to improve the welfare of retired police officers, urging the government to translate its promises into tangible benefits without delay.
“The good intention of Mr President should be expeditiously turned into reality. If by August or September retirees begin to see improvements in their bank alerts, it will demonstrate good faith. Many police retirees no longer trust government because of what they experienced during service,” he said.
Owoseni, who retired from the Nigeria Police Force in January 2019 after 35 years of service, disclosed that the Inspector-General had initiated efforts to harmonise the demands of the various groups of retired police officers before presenting a unified position to the President.
According to him, reconciliation efforts have yielded significant progress, with most factions now supporting the proposed pension reform.
“He said reconciliation efforts had brought most of the factions together, adding that although one group initially demanded a complete exit from the Contributory Pension Scheme, the majority had embraced the proposed Option B after being briefed on its benefits.”
Owoseni further stated that about 98.5 per cent of retired police officers under the Contributory Pension Scheme now support the proposal, provided the Federal Government fulfils its commitments.
He called on the Federal Government to direct the Ministry of Finance and the National Pension Commission to ensure that the approved improvements are reflected promptly in retirees’ monthly pension payments.
Owoseni also urged the National Pension Commission to safeguard the funds managed by the Nigeria Police Force Pension Fund Administrator, alleging that vested interests were attempting to take control of the fund because of its size.
While acknowledging the constitutional right of retirees to peaceful protest, the former police commissioner advised aggrieved officers to embrace dialogue rather than confrontation.
He criticised the continued street protests by a faction of the retirees, describing actions such as blocking major roads, insulting serving and retired senior police officers, and issuing ultimatums to the President as inconsistent with the discipline expected of former police officers.
He also faulted the alleged mobilisation of police officers’ wives and other civilians to participate in the demonstrations, warning that such actions could encourage public disorder.
Owoseni maintained that some protesters appeared unwilling to consider alternative solutions despite efforts to explain the implications of exiting the Contributory Pension Scheme.
He appealed to the remaining aggrieved retirees to exercise patience and allow the ongoing reconciliation process and government intervention to achieve lasting reforms.
According to him, the pension dispute can only be resolved through sustained cooperation between retired police officers, the Inspector-General of Police and the Presidency rather than continued confrontation.
He expressed optimism that the agitation would subside once the proposed pension improvements begin to reflect in retirees’ monthly pension payments.
His appeal comes amid renewed agitation by retired police officers, who recently blocked one of the gates leading to the Presidential Villa in Abuja to demand the removal of police personnel from the Contributory Pension Scheme.
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