Atiku knocks Tinubu over welfare of police retirees, unveils plan to raise pay, settle pension
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of abandoning retired police officers to hunger, illness and humiliation while serving officers draw down their pension savings to feed their…
Police welfare has long been a sore point in Nigeria, with retired officers routinely complaining of delayed pensions, poor gratuities and inadequate healthcare after decades of service, even as serving personnel cite low pay and harsh working conditions. Successive administrations have promised reforms to the Nigeria Police Pension Fund and salary structures, but implementation has been slow, leaving many retirees to rely on family support or charity.
Atiku Abubakar, a perennial opposition presidential contender, has used the issue to criticise President Bola Tinubu's handling of police welfare as he positions himself ahead of the 2027 election. The coverage agrees on the broad thrust of his proposal — settling verified pension arrears, raising salaries and improving healthcare access — but details on funding sources, implementation timelines and how arrears would be verified remain unreported.