Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of neglecting retired police officers, saying many are struggling with hunger, illness and poverty despite their years of service to Nigeria.
Atiku also called for an urgent salary review for serving police officers and demanded an explanation for the delay in acting on the Police Exit Bill.
His demand comes after the government approved a pay increase for members of the Armed Forces.
In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku criticised the government over the condition of retired police officers.
He said some retired officers had protested outside the National Assembly with their wives and children, asking lawmakers to pass a law that could improve their living conditions.
Atiku recalled meeting a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police who told him that his monthly pension was only N29,000.
According to Atiku, the retired officer also said more than 120 members of his association had died within the past three years.
Atiku questioned how retired officers could survive on such a small amount after spending years serving the country.
He also shared the experience of a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police who reportedly searched for work, including cleaning jobs, to survive after retirement.
He said one of his media managers later found the former officer begging at the Central Mosque in Abuja. His team intervened to assist her.
However, Atiku said helping the woman was not enough to address the wider problem facing retired police officers.
He argued that no former officer should have to beg for assistance after dedicating years to public service.
Atiku also recalled an incident in Bauchi where a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police reportedly saw a former colleague gathering firewood to sell so he could afford food.
He said such situations showed how badly some retired officers were struggling to meet their basic needs.
The former vice president further claimed that some serving police officers had withdrawn 25 per cent of their pension savings to feed their families.
He blamed the rising cost of food, transportation and medicine for making it difficult for officers to survive on their salaries.
Atiku said it was unfair to expect police officers to risk their lives fighting armed criminals while struggling to provide for their families and worrying about their financial future after retirement.
On the Police Exit Bill, Atiku said the bill was sent to President Tinubu in March but had yet to receive a response as of October.
He cited Section 58 of the Constitution, which provides a 30-day period for the president to signify assent to a bill or withhold it, and demanded an explanation for the delay.
Atiku also called on the National Assembly to publish the bill’s official status, demand an explanation from the relevant authorities and determine the constitutional steps available to move the matter forward.
He said lawmakers should make their positions known publicly if a vote was required.
Atiku promised to address the challenges facing police officers if he became president in May 2027.
Under his proposed Police Dignity Guarantee Plan, he said his administration would review verified pension arrears and gratuity claims, establish clear payment schedules and introduce a minimum pension level that would be reviewed as the cost of living changes.
He also promised to provide health insurance for serving and retired officers, ensure treatment for officers injured on duty and provide timely support for families of officers killed in service.
Atiku said officers who were too ill to travel for pension verification would be verified at home to prevent their health conditions from stopping them from receiving their entitlements.
He further promised to review police salaries so that serving officers would not need to withdraw their pension savings to meet their daily needs.
According to him, officers would also receive clear records of their pension contributions and entitlements before retirement, along with contacts to help resolve disputes and information about their payment dates.
Atiku said his proposed plan would be included in the budget, with payments made under the programme published for public accountability.
He maintained that the country had a responsibility to ensure that police officers who spent years protecting Nigerians could also provide for their families and live with dignity after retirement.