Atiku Calls For Urgent Reforms To Address Welfare Of Retired Police Officers

Former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for urgent reforms to address the welfare challenges facing retired police officers, citing inadequate pensions, rising living costs and uncertainty surrounding legislation intended to improve their retirement benefits.
Atiku made the call in a statement issued on Sunday, October 18, through Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council. He expressed concern over reports of former police personnel struggling to meet their basic needs after years of service protecting lives and property.
The former vice president described the reported conditions of some retired officers as troubling, arguing that those who dedicated their working lives to maintaining law and order should not be left without adequate financial support after retirement.
He cited the case of a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police who reportedly receives a monthly pension of just ₦29,000, questioning how such an amount could cover essential expenses, including food, accommodation and healthcare, amid Nigeria’s rising cost of living.
According to Atiku, the situation highlights the difficulties faced by retired officers whose pension payments have allegedly become insufficient to sustain them in the face of increasing prices of goods and services.
He also claimed that more than 120 members of an association of retired police officers had died within three years, citing information he said he received from the retired Assistant Superintendent of Police.
However, the statement did not independently establish the circumstances surrounding the reported deaths.
Atiku further recounted the experience of a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police who allegedly struggled to secure employment after leaving the force and was eventually found begging at the Central Mosque in Abuja.
He said a member of his media team recognised the woman and brought her situation to his attention, prompting an intervention.
Another case involved a retired police officer in Bauchi State who reportedly resorted to gathering firewood for sale to earn money to buy food.
According to Atiku, these accounts illustrate the financial difficulties some former police personnel face after retirement and raise questions about the adequacy of existing welfare arrangements.
He maintained that while charitable interventions could offer temporary relief to individuals in distress, they could not replace a reliable pension system capable of providing long-term financial security.
Atiku argued that retired officers deserved to live with dignity after years of service and should not have to depend on public generosity to meet their basic needs.
Police Exit Bill Raises Questions
A major issue highlighted by Atiku was the status of the Police Exit Bill, which he said was submitted to President Bola Tinubu in March 2026 but had yet to receive a decisive response as of October.
He called on the President to clarify the status of the proposed legislation, stressing the need for transparency regarding its progress and the potential implications for retired police officers.
Atiku also urged the National Assembly to make its position on the bill public and determine the constitutional steps available to resolve the matter.
The uncertainty surrounding the legislation, he argued, has added to concerns among former police personnel seeking improvements in their retirement benefits.
He maintained that the government should provide clear information about the proposed reforms rather than leave affected officers uncertain about the future of their pensions.
The former vice president's intervention comes amid broader concerns about the ability of Nigerians on fixed incomes to cope with rising prices, particularly the cost of food, transportation and healthcare.
Call for Better Pay and Healthcare
Beyond retirement benefits, Atiku called for a review of salaries for serving police officers, arguing that welfare concerns should be addressed throughout an officer's career and not only after retirement.
He claimed that some serving personnel were reportedly withdrawing portions of their pension savings to meet household expenses, a situation he said underscored the need to review police remuneration.
According to him, inadequate pay and rising living costs could place additional pressure on officers responsible for maintaining public safety.
Atiku said a comprehensive approach to police welfare should include adequate salaries, timely pension payments and access to healthcare for both serving and retired personnel.
He argued that improving the welfare of police officers was essential to recognising their service and ensuring that those entrusted with protecting citizens could also secure their own families' well-being.
He further maintained that retirement should not expose former officers to financial hardship after years of public service.
Atiku Proposes Police Dignity Guarantee Plan
As part of his proposed response, Atiku announced a Police Dignity Guarantee Plan, which he said he would prioritise if elected president in 2027.
The proposed initiative includes an audit of verified pension arrears and gratuity claims, alongside the publication of payment schedules to improve transparency and accountability in the disbursement of retirement benefits.
It also proposes establishing a minimum pension benchmark linked to living costs, an approach intended to help ensure that retired officers receive benefits that reflect basic economic needs.
Healthcare coverage for serving and retired police officers is another component of the plan.
According to Atiku, the proposed measures would provide a more structured approach to police welfare by addressing outstanding payments, improving pension adequacy and strengthening access to medical care.
The plan remains a campaign proposal, and its implementation would depend on the outcome of the 2027 presidential election and the necessary administrative, legislative and budgetary processes.
Atiku maintained that police welfare should be treated as a public responsibility rather than an issue left to individual acts of charity.
He called for urgent action to address the challenges facing retired officers, stressing that those who had spent years protecting Nigerians should be able to retire with financial security and dignity.
He also urged the relevant authorities to provide clarity on the Police Exit Bill and take concrete steps towards improving the welfare of serving and retired personnel.
The statement places police pensions and retirement security at the centre of the debate over the welfare of Nigeria's security personnel, with Atiku calling for reforms that would address immediate financial difficulties while establishing more dependable long-term support for former officers.