Former Presidential Candidate and Human Rights Activist, Barr. Omoyele Sowore Monday led other rights activists and retired police officers on a protest match in Abuja demanding improved welfare for retired and serving policemen in Nigeria.
Speaking during the march from the Force Headquarters at Louis Edet House to the National Assembly and back to the FHQ, Barr. Sowore who is also the Convener of the Revolution Now Movement, expressed sadness that retired and serving officers at the level of Inspector Generals have continued to impoverish others by preventing their exit from the Nigeria Police Pensions Ltd.
He pledged that the protest will be sustained until demands for improved pension packages by protesting retired policemen across the country are met through urgent intervention by the Federal Government.
He also called on the government to recognise the sacrifices made by police officers and ensure that their welfare was prioritised.
The protesters expressed displeasure over what they described as years of neglect, non-payment of pensions, and poor treatment of officers who had served the nation diligently.
Among other demands, they called for an exit from the Police Contributory Pension Scheme.
Meanwhile, a Human Rights Lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, who also spoke at the venue of the protest, expressed concern over the humongous welfare packages enjoyed by elected government officials, while retired officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force continue to wallow in penury.
Adeyanju, argued that it is inhuman to hand between one point five to two and three million naira to an individual who has given 35 years of the better part of his or her life to serve Nigeria
The Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun later met with the protesting retired police officers at the peacekeeping hall, Force Headquarters in Abuja.