President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, has ordered the immediate review of the severance package of retired police officers to reflect the enormity of their contributions and commitment to national growth.
He said as a follow up, he would sign an executive order on ‘National Police and Veterans’ Day’.
He said the day would be set aside as a day the nation will honour the epic heroism, patriotism, love of country, selfless efforts and sacrifices of police officers (both serving and retired), for the common good of Nigerians.
This came as the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Solomon Arase, described police veterans as “national heroes” who remained the epitome of sacrifice, who demonstrated professionalism under the most trying circumstances and put their lives on the line for the country.
President Tinubu spoke at the formal launch of the Nigeria Police Force Veterans’ Foundation at the headquarters of the Police Service Commission in Jabi, Abuja.
The event was attended by the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Patricia Obila, Retired Inspectors-General of Police, Aliyu Attah, Sunday Ehindero, Ogbonna Onovo and Suleiman Abba among others.
President Tinubu said he will ensure the immediate review of the pension and severance package of retired police officers.
“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.
He stated that “on this day, the nation will honour the epic heroism, patriotism, love of country, selfless efforts and sacrifices of our police officers (both serving and retired), for the common good of Nigerians. “Furthermore, it will also serve to immortalize in our consciousness the habit of thought and of action to labour steadily and to commit selflessly with courage and hard work beyond personal enhancement and self-interest, for our collective peace and security of our nation”.
President Tinubu further stated that the national police and veterans day “will also serve to immortalize in our consciousness the habit of thought and of action to labour steadily and to commit selflessly with courage and hard work beyond personal enhancement and self-interest, for our collective peace and security of our nation”.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Solomon Arase, described police veterans as “national heroes” who remained the epitome of sacrifice who demonstrated professionalism under the most trying circumstances, and put their lives on line for the country.
“The retired police officers whose welfare we seek to improve by the establishment and launch of this Foundation are our national heroes. Heroes of peace.
“They remain the epitome of sacrifice who demonstrated professionalism under the most trying circumstances, and put their lives on line for the country”, he said.
“They are exemplars of humanity and humanness toward people who some might say deserved none. We should, therefore, be constantly inspired by the commitments and courage of our retired Officers and I consider this an inescapable call to national duty for these senior citizens of the force to be shown love, assistance and support as our collective token of appreciation for their great journey of achievements for our country’s stability and peaceful co-existence”, he said.
Arase called for the support of Nigerians to actualize the foundation’s goals.
“As we embark on this journey of mobilizing support and assistance for the welfare of the retired members of the Nigeria Police, it is important to note that this noble project cannot be actualized without corresponding understanding, cooperation and love from the members of the society.
“I, therefore, urge everyone to get involved in this noble act of humanity and humaneness by supporting the foundation in putting smiles on the faces of our veterans”, he said.
Kingsley Nwezeh
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