By Linus Aleke
The Chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC), Dr. Solomon Arase, has commended the National Assembly for finally endorsing a veritable law that has removed the police from the contributory Pension Scheme like their other colleagues in the security services.
The former IGP said, the scheme had impacted negatively on the standard of living of retired police officers and exposed them to several health challenges.
Head press and Public Relation Unit, Mr. Ikechukwu Ani, in a statement in Abuja, said, Dr. Arase commended the retired officers who were resolute and persistently pursued their interest in a civilised manner.
According to Arase, “The quick assent to the bill will be an icing on the cake and will assuage the pangs of abject poverty they have been consigned to after a meritorious service of their fatherland where some paid the supreme price to ensure security and public safety in the country”.
The statement added that the Chairman had earlier on continued his stakeholders advocacy shuttle with a visit to the Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS at the EU Embassy in Abuja where he appealed for support on the area of police reforms, training and retraining of police personnel on investigation and alternative dispute resolution in order to mitigate cases of human rights violations and pre-trial detention.
This, he noted is to entrench the culture of responsible policing in Nigeria.
He also requested for the support of the delegation for civilian oversight training for staff of the commission.
The Team Lead of the Delegation, Mr. Ruben Alba Aguiler said, the security sector reform is a top priority for the European Union, especially in tackling terrorism and all forms of criminality in the country adding that the EU will like to be part of the solution, but will like to take a look at the direction of the new administration as it relates to police and security sector reforms.
This, he added, is to have a clear and precise idea of the area of partnership.
He promised to engage other development partners to ensure a broader partnership.
