4,000 retired police officers yet to receive pension - Minister

Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade, has disclosed that no fewer than 4,000 retired police officers are yet to receive their  pension.

Olubolade, who made the disclosure in his 2012 report on his ministry’s progress and challenges, expressed uncertainty about the actual figure, saying the number could be more as files of retired officers were still being processed.

The minister, however, assured that the backlog of the unpaid gratuities would soon be cleared as the verification of those dropped in the last nationwide pensioners’ bio-data capturing exercise had been concluded. “I hope the assignment will solve the challenge of data irregularities and enhance an efficient pension administration as well as assist the Police Pension Office in its statutory responsibility of generating accurate database for budget purposes and planning”, he stated.

Reeling out the ministry’s achievements in 2012, the minister said the operational capacity of the police had been enhanced through training, capacity building, delivery of 1,500 patrol vans and 90 cars, strengthening of the air-wing section of the force and acquisition of a strategic intelligence platform.

“Another policy was the establishment of a database of companies involved in the activities of explosives, seismic, radio-active, biological and chemical materials in the country at the Force headquarters, Abuja and Lagos. Also created was 10 new Explosive Ordinance Device (EOD) sub-units in Bauchi, Birnin Kebbi, Dutse, Gombe, Gusau, Jalingo, Lafia, Lagos, Minna and Umuahia to address terrorism”, he disclosed.

Olubolade, however, lamented that despite the ministry’s efforts at repositioning the police and in the face of the current security challenges in the country, the capacity of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to confront the development had over the years been constrained by the dwindling financial provisions for the force.

While highlighting the capital expenditure and budget performance of the police in the fiscal year, the minister said “the utilisation of the sums of money released as at December 31st, 2012 stands at 99.2 per cent, 50.3 per cent, 97.6 per cent and 79.6 per cent for the ministry, Nigeria Police Formation and Commands, Police Pension Office and Reform Programme respectively”.

While submitting that more funding was required to transform the police to an efficient and effective people-friendly force that would measure up to the expectations of Nigerians in the 21st Century, the minister said President Goodluck Jonathan’s government was committed to improving the lot of policemen and equipping them to effectively fight against crime.

“The Federal Government was committed to providing annual contribution of N79.02 billion towards the implementation of the Reform Programme. Though only 65.5 billion and 17.1 billion were released in 2010 and 2011 respectively, I want to place on record that the unreserved commitment of Mr. President to train, equip, rehabilitate police barracks, stations and provide feeding for police personnel on special duties and pay salaries and pensions as and when due has greatly boosted the morale and performance profile of the NPF.
TRIBUNE