…We Retired into Penury, Say Other Officers
Segun Atanda/
A retired Commissioner of Police has cried out after a fruitless pursuit of his pension and gratuity for over 5 years.
CP Friday Toyin Ibadin, who retired as a Nigeria Police officer, told NewsmakersNG how he had made over 30 trips to Abuja the Federal Capital Territory, within 5 years, in pursuit of his entitlements.
“They are killing me! The police have not paid me since I retired. No pension, no gratuity. They said my file was missing. I was not even paid my N5 million disengagement money that I could have settled down with.
“As a retired police commissioner, my pension is not more than N70,000. Is that money? Even, to give me the money is a problem. Let them give me the pension and gratuity, it’s a problem.
“What has shocked me is that those at the Pension Office are saying they cannot see my money, despite being captured and all their requirements complied with.”
Ibadin added, “I submitted my retirement letter on July 2nd, 2018. The letter was replied to five years later, on 12th April 2023. I’m begging the IGP to please intervene. Let them give me my entitlement. This is not a fair treatment of someone who served this country meritoriously. The police pension office and their modus are gradually affecting my health and standard of living.
“I met one Aliu Mustapha at the pension office who has not also been paid. After 35 years of meritorious service, he has traveled from his village to Abuja several times.
“I am entitled to a gardener, orderly, and cook; I have none, and they are not paying for it. They are killing officers and collecting their money. Please, this thing should stop.
“They will ask you to come. You’ll travel to Abuja, then they will tell you one of the officers in charge traveled for a burial. What’s going on for goodness’ sake?
“I met the Head of the Benefits department. He said they couldn’t find my resettlement money. I have visited Abuja over 30 times, and you say the money can’t be traced. I’ll be out on the streets if I don’t have other things to do. I have dependents, and I must take care of my health.”
NewsmakersNG found that many retired officers are suffering the same fate in silence.
Two other retired commissioners also told NewsmakersNG about their suffering.
One of them, who retired as a Command CP in the Southwest pleaded for anonymity as he told NewsmakersNG: “We retired into penury. We go about begging for support.”
Another retired CP from Imo State also decried the treatment meted out to retired officers. He said he had not received any of his benefits and entitlements 5 years after his retirement.
As a lawyer, Ibadin had fought and won legal battles for the police in court while he was in the service. He was the arrowhead of the war against pipeline vandals. He led his squad to uncover loads of stolen oil and unearth bodies of government agents killed and buried by the vandals.
He was also the arrowhead of the war against police extortion and corruption waged under the late CP Young Arebamen.
“Just imagine the letter I wrote for retirement in 2018 was only acknowledged and approved in 2023 for no offense. Without this letter from the police service commission, nobody will pay you anything. Why? What is my crime? I don’t deserve to be treated this way after putting my life on the firing line for this country for 35 years. Maybe they are waiting for me to die so that someone can eat the money and write it off,” he said.
