Respite is underway for retired police officers as the Pension Reform Bill 2025, which will give legal seal to exit of police personnel from contributory pension scheme, might be passed today.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, gave the hint at a meeting with retired police officers, under the aegis of Police Retired Officers’ Forum (PROF), after weeks of peaceful protests at the National Assembly. Akpabio said since all security agencies have exited the scheme, there was no point retaining police retirees there.

He lauded the service offered by retired police officers and their colleagues, noting that they have been a strong pillar in internal security.

Following the officers’ agitation under aegis of the National Coordinator of PROF, Chief Superintendent of Police Raphael Irowainu (rtd), House of Representatives passed the amendment bill and forwarded it to the Senate for concurrence and harmonisation.

At the meeting, Akpabio promised that all encumbrances to its passage would be removed to enable the  former police officers have a better deal like their counterparts.

Disturbed by the plight of the retirees, the Senate became emotional, promising that the bill might be passed on Tuesday with PROF at the plenary. 

The truce came after the retired officers were initially denied entry to National Assembly Complex until spokesman of House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, addressed them and facilitated their entry.

Rotimi highlighted contributions of the retirees who have served the nation in their youth for 35 years in the maintenance of national security. He said they deserved absolute care and better deal from the state through payment of enhanced and adequate gratuity and pension and not the peanut they are paying them, which have subjected them to hardship and dehumanisation.

He promised the police retirees that the House of Representatives will ensure that the Senate concurs with the bill already passed by the House of Representatives, then the National Assembly and transmitted to the President for his assent without further delay.

Rotimi apologised on behalf of the National Assembly for not attending to them on time and thereby prolonging their stay at the National Assembly Gate from September 29 to November 25.

He called on the retirees to leave for their states and assured them the National Assembly would expedite action on the bill.

Source; The Nation News