By Kelvin ololo
The National Pension Commission (PENCOM) has assured Police Retirees in the South-South Zone of the federal government’s commitment and effort in ensuring that retirees are paid 100 percent of their gratuities and 75 to 100 percent monthly pensions.
The assurance which breezes hope to the plight of the retired service men was made during a South South engagement Meeting with the Director General of PENCOM, Ms. Omolola Oloworaran held at the Police Officers’ Mess in Calabar.
Ms. Omolola Oloworaran who assured the gathering of the retirees of massive reforms in the scheme, inferred that, the commission was committed to the police pension reform and was going to make proposal as well as take their demands to the Presidency accordingly.
While responding to questions from retirees, she assured them that “We are looking at gratuity of 100 percent to retired policemen and monthly pension of 75 to 100 percent. what we are trying to do is see how the current pension scheme can work best for the police officers, we can do Contributory Defined Pension Scheme under CPS.
“What I’m trying to do is make sure that the police and indeed every Nigerian under the CPS gets what is due to them and the police like I said, they are fighting for better entitlements and you guys were there, some of the entitlements are just so poor. People receiving N20,000 in pensions is just too small.”
She emphasized that the pension reform is going to immensely serve the Police retirees better than before. She enjoined them to give federal government and PENCOM a chance to work things out for their betterment.
The highly interactive section with the DG, the retirees unanimously chorus to opt out from the contributory Pension Scheme(CPS). A decision which was explained by the National Legal Officer of Police Retirees DSP (Barrister) Ofem Mbang (Rtd).
DSP Ofem Mbang said: “We want total exit, we have been deceived enough. We want police pension board. Many of us have died and many others bed ridden because of what we are passing through. We want permanent structures and not palliative. Our concern here is pension and gratuity.”
Responding, the National Coordinator and the Chairman of the Cross River State Chapter for Retired Police Officers under the CPS, SP Christopher Effiong (Rtd), explained his ordeal after retirement. He said that “after 35 years in service or 60 years of age, when we came out, we discovered that Contributory Pension Scheme is a ruse and we need to be given fair treatment.
“And of course, in the first place, we have discovered that the Constitutional Provision of Pension under Section 173, Sub 3 of the Constitution, clearly states that after 35 years of service or 60 years of age, as you retire home, they pay you 300 percent of your last annual gross pay as gratuity or 80 percent of your last salary as your monthly pension. But when we came out, it is not so,” he said
There were concerns of welfare, health and revocation of the police pensions license.
Since You Are Here, Support Good JournalismCrossRiverWatch was founded on the ideals of deploying tech tools to report in an ethical manner, news, views and analysis with a narrative that ensures transparency in governance, a good society and an accountable democracy. Everyone appreciates good journalism but it costs a lot of money. Nonetheless, it cannot be sacrificed on the altar of news commercialization. Consider making a modest contribution to support CrossRiverWatch's journalism of credibility and integrity in order to ensure that all have continuous free access to our noble endeavor. CLICK HERE |
New Feature: Don't miss any of our news again.Get all our articles in your facebook chat box.Click the Facebook Messenger Icon below to subscribe now
Text Advert by CRWatch :Place Yours
Will You To Learn How To Make Millions Of Naira Making Special Creams From Your Kitchen?.Click Here
Expose Your Business And Make More Sales. Advertise On CrossRiverWatch.com Today
Leave feedback about this