BY EMMA PETER, ABUJA
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of neglecting retired police officers, alleging that many are struggling with poverty, illness and unpaid retirement benefits despite decades of service to the country.
Atiku also demanded an immediate decision on the Police Exit Bill and a review of salaries for serving police personnel, arguing that officers should not be forced to exhaust their pension savings to meet their families’ daily needs.
The former vice president made his position known in a statement issued on Sunday, October 18, 2026, by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council.
He described the reported hardship facing retired officers as a national disgrace, particularly for personnel who risked their lives to protect Nigerians but now struggle to afford basic necessities.
Atiku recounted the experience of a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police who allegedly told him that his monthly pension was ₦29,000, questioning how anyone could survive on such an amount amid rising food, transportation and healthcare costs.
He further claimed that more than 120 members of the retired officer’s association had died within three years, stressing the need for urgent government intervention to improve the welfare of former police personnel.
The former vice president also narrated the case of a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police who, after years of service, allegedly resorted to seeking menial jobs to survive and was later found begging at the Central Mosque in Abuja.
According to Atiku, one of his media managers recognised the retired officer and brought her plight to his attention, prompting an intervention to assist her.
While expressing relief that the woman received help, he argued that individual assistance could not replace the pension, healthcare and financial security she was entitled to after years of public service.
He also cited the experience of a retired police officer in Bauchi who allegedly resorted to gathering firewood for sale to raise money for food, describing the situation as a painful reflection of the difficulties confronting some former security personnel.
Atiku further alleged that some serving police officers had withdrawn 25 per cent of their pension savings to feed their children, attributing their financial difficulties to rising living costs and inadequate salaries.
He maintained that officers deployed to confront armed criminals and protect communities should not have to worry about feeding their families or whether they would be adequately supported after retirement.
On the Police Exit Bill, Atiku said the proposed legislation was forwarded to President Tinubu in March and accused the president of failing to provide a timely response.
He cited Section 58 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, arguing that the constitutional provisions on presidential assent required clarity on the status of the bill.
Atiku called on the National Assembly to publish the bill’s formal status, demand an explanation for any delay and determine the constitutional steps available to resolve the matter.
He also urged lawmakers to ensure transparency in handling the legislation, insisting that retired officers who spent decades enforcing the country’s laws should not have to protest outside the National Assembly to secure their entitlements.
The former vice president subsequently unveiled his proposed Police Dignity Guarantee Plan, promising to introduce a series of welfare measures if he assumes office in May 2027.
Under the proposed plan, Atiku said his administration would audit and settle verified pension arrears and gratuity claims according to publicly announced payment schedules.
He also pledged to establish a minimum pension threshold that would be reviewed in line with changes in the cost of living, with the stated objective of ensuring that retired officers could afford food, medicine and other essential needs.
The plan, according to him, would include insured healthcare coverage for serving and retired police officers, medical treatment for personnel injured in the line of duty and timely support for families of officers killed while serving the country.
Atiku further promised that retired officers whose health conditions prevented them from travelling would be able to complete verification procedures from their homes, rather than risk losing access to their benefits because of illness or mobility challenges.
He said his proposed administration would also review police salaries to enable serving officers to meet their families’ needs without withdrawing funds set aside for retirement.
Additionally, he pledged to ensure that every officer approaching retirement received a clear record of pension contributions and entitlements, access to a designated contact for resolving disputes and reliable information about payment dates.
Atiku said the proposed welfare programme would be backed by budgetary provisions, with payments made under the plan published to promote accountability.
He maintained that improving police welfare was essential to protecting the dignity of personnel who dedicate their working lives to national security.
“Those who protect this country must be able to protect their families. And when their service ends, Nigeria must keep its word to them,” Atiku said.
