Relief came the way of retired Police officers on Thursday as the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio assured the protesting retirees who have been keeping vigil at the gate of the National Assembly over their inclusion in the Contributory Pension Scheme, that their problem is over.
Receiving the leadership of the retirees in his office, he assured that the issue would be given a speedy hearing and concur with the House of Representatives, which had earlier passed the bill.
He said: “The policy, from what you have told us, was not well thought out. But take it that you have to disperse from the gate, that problem as far as the law is concerned is over.
“On Tuesday next week, we will concur with what the House of Representatives have done and produce an Act exiting you from the Scheme. I know that President Bola Tinubu, being a listening President would sign it into law. The Scheme is certainly not good for the security personnel.
“If the military, DSS, NIA and other had exited, I see no reason why the Police should remain while those in the echelon of the service, are out of it. You all fought insecurity together. What is good for the goose is also good for the gander. We will ensure that the Scheme is same from the IG to the last Constable.
“Sometimes our country is fantastic in copying policies and not thinking out the implications if implemented and if that was done, many of you wouldn’t have died. We always compare oranges with apples.”
Earlier in his remarks, the leader of the retirees, CSP Mannir Lawal Zaria, thanked the Senate President for granting them access to see him in his office, adding that they were upbeat that their problems would be looked into with dispatch.
The police officers had earlier in the day staged a protest at the National Assembly, accusing the Akpabio-led Senate of deliberately delaying a bill aimed at removing them from a controversial contributory pension scheme.
Chanting “We no dey go,” the protesters attempted to gain entry into the National Assembly complex, but security personnel at the gate initially blocked their entry, prompting some of them to climb over the gates, while a few successfully forced their way inside, waiting for their colleagues to join them.
One of the retirees said: “We need to go in and see Akpabio. We need to go in and see the Senate President. He is the one holding us back. He is the one working against us. The House of Representatives has done the needful; it remains the Senate.”