The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has told retired police officers that removing them from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) is beyond his power, even as he assured them of ongoing efforts to improve their welfare.

On Monday, scores of aggrieved retirees stormed the National Assembly and later the force headquarters in Abuja to protest what they described as the hardship and uncertainty they have faced under the pension scheme.

Many of the demonstrators, most of them elderly, carried placards demanding their immediate removal from the CPS.

Addressing the protesting officers at the force headquarters, Egbetokun expressed empathy and acknowledged that the issue of poor retirement benefits is a growing concern even for those still in service.

?We all feel concerned. We empathise with you because we are also going to retire. I have been engaging at the highest level to ensure that something is done to improve the condition of the poor pensioner,? he said.

The police chief disclosed that he had just returned from a meeting with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, where the welfare of retired officers was extensively discussed.

?Even right now, I was just coming from a meeting with the NSA. The subject matter is the poor pension of retired officers. There are things that we need to make to ensure that your suffering in retirement is alleviated,? he said.

Egbetokun explained that although several steps have been taken to address the issue, he preferred not to disclose the details publicly, assuring the retirees that the force is actively working on lasting solutions.

?But I just want to assure you that we empathise with you, and we are not just folding our arms. We are doing a lot to ensure that something is done,? he added.

He also warned the protesting officers against being manipulated by individuals or groups with hidden motives.

?Don?t allow the enemies of the police to use you. Be suspicious of those who pretend to be on your side. They may not mean well for you,? he cautioned.

On the call for the police to exit the CPS, Egbetokun clarified that he is not against the idea but stressed that such a decision lies beyond the jurisdiction of his office.

?I am not opposed to your exiting of the CPS. I?m not opposed to it. If exiting from CPS will solve the problem, I will go for it,? he said.

?But if it is difficult for us to exit CPS, what else can we do? We have been agitating, exit CPS, exit CPS. For the past 11 years, it has not worked.?

He noted that every inspector-general since 2014 has made efforts to remove the police from the scheme, but without success due to the structural and legislative hurdles involved.

?The agitation to exit the CPS has been on since 2014, 11 years ago. All previous IGs have tried their best to remove the police from the CPS. But exiting the CPS is beyond the power of any Inspector General of Police,? he explained.

Egbetokun also challenged the narrative that a good pension can only be earned outside the scheme. He said reforms within the CPS can also lead to improved benefits for retirees.

?Even while in the CPS, this is what I have said that people have misconstrued. They have misinterpreted it as meaning that it is not until you exit the CPS that you can earn a good pension.

?Even with the CPS, we can improve the operation of that CPS and ensure that you are happy in retirement?, he stated.

He revealed that he has begun exploring alternative approaches to address pension-related grievances following the failure of previous attempts to exit the scheme.

?So as IG, I started thinking that we have to start looking for alternative ways of addressing the challenges. And it?s these alternative ways I?m working on that people are misinterpreting as I am opposing your exit from CPS,? he said. (Daily Trust)

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