By Olugbenga Salami
President Bola Tinubu has promised his full support for the retired police officers and urged the government at all levels and well-meaning members of the society not to abandon them.
Speaking through the Minister of State for Police Affairs, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim during the launch of the Nigeria Police Force Veterans Foundation in Abuja, he commended the brains behind the project aimed at improving the welfare of police retirees.
Tinubu, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Deputy Director of Press in the ministry, Bolaji Kazeem, pointed out that one of the responsibilities of government and individuals in the society is supporting and sustaining the Foundation to enable the attainment of its noble objectives of giving a better life and hopes to retired police officers to cushion the effects and burdens of post-service challenges.
He said: “As the President of our dear country, I will not only give my full support to the Veterans Foundation but will also ensure that such areas like improving the pension and severance package of retired police officers are immediately reviewed to reflect the enormity of their contributions and commitment to our country.”
“Also, administrative processes towards issuance of an Executive Order will be immediately initiated to set aside a day, perhaps, 5th March (being today, the launch of the Veterans’ Foundation) or 1st April (being the date that the hitherto existing police forces of Northern and Southern Provinces were amalgamated to form a unified Nigeria Police Force), as National Police and Veterans’ Day in Nigeria”, he said.
The President noted that the conceptualization of the Foundation which has crystallized to its launch was not only thoughtful, but a great initiative.
“We must reflect on the cost of peace and security in Nigeria, to enable us to fully appreciate and thank our police veterans, for placing the nation’s security before their own lives. Their courage, sacrifices, and commitment to peace and security undoubtedly create a huge debt that Nigeria cannot commensurately be repaid to them.
“The Nigeria Police Force is a critical symbol of state legitimacy and the lead agency in Nigeria’s internal security architecture. The sacrifice and commitment of its personnel contribute in no measure to keeping the citizens’ safe and guaranteeing a stable national democratic order,” he stressed.
Earlier, the chairman, Police Service Commission, PSC, Dr. Solomon Arase said the launch of the Foundation would always be chronicled as a great milestone for the members of the Police Force, both serving and retired, noting that its launch accords the opportunity to reflect on “the sacrifices made by our brave police officers in the course of duty, and the debt of gratitude yet unpaid by the very society that they gave their all.”
