ARPON URGES RETIRED POLICE OFFICERS TO SHELVE PLANNED PROTEST
Oru Leonard
The Association of Retired Police officers of Nigeria (ARPON), has called on all aggrieved police retirees planning to go on public protest to shelve such plan as the Federal Government is currently taking steps to address all the issues pertaining to police pensions.
This was contained in a statement signed by ARPON President, Fidelis Oyakhilome, and made available to Journalists in Abuja.
He said that the Association has been working with various stakeholders including the incumbent Inspector General of Police, towards securing improved pension benefits for Police retirees both under the Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS) and the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
According to the statement, “It has come to the knowledge of the Association that some police retirees are planning to go on public protest in some parts of the country over pension matters. The Association of Retired Police officers of Nigeria (ARPON) is the recognized and registered umbrella of Police retirees in Nigeria.
“In view of the fact that the Federal Government is seriously taking steps to remedy challenges in connection with police pensions, we appeal to any group planning to embark on any protest to shelve the idea for now.
“At the Association’s AGM held on November 13, 2019, an ad-hoc committee was set up to look at all outstanding issues and recommend ways/means of resolving them. Appropriate recommendations have since therefore been made by ARPON to the appropriate authorities including the Inspector-General of Police, PENCOM and the Presidency.
“It is worthy of note that the Inspector-General of Police, not too long ago, announced the Presidential approval for the Police to exit from the Contributory Pension Scheme.”
Furthermore, he stressed that as Senior Citizens and law abiding Nigerians, especially due to the challenging security situation in the country the Association would not support any public protest or demonstration by any group of police retirees as hoodlums may cash in on such to cause havoc.
Oyakhilome therefore, appealed for calm while all the outstanding issues are being resolved by the Federal Government.
