President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reiterated the need to assist and support the Police veterans at all levels of government, including well-meaning members of the society.
He stated this during the launch of the Nigeria Police Force Veterans Foundation at the Corporate Headquarters, Police Service Commission, Abuja.
In his speech read by the Minister of State Police Affairs, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim pointed out that one of the responsibilities of government and individuals in the society is supporting and sustaining the Police Veterans’ Foundation to enable the attainment of its noble objectives of giving a better life and hopes to our Police retired officers that will cushion the effects and burdens of post-service challenges.
In his words, “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”.
The President noted that the conceptualization of the Police Veterans Foundation which has crystallized to its launch today is not only thoughtful but a great initiative. I, therefore, salute the brains behind this noble idea and laudable project aimed at improving the welfare of Police retirees and renewing their hopes to live out their lives in dignity and comfort. Tinubu stressed.
According to him, “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.
He added that 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 mean measure to keeping the citizens safe and guaranteeing a stable national democratic order.
Tinubu charged the good people of Nigeria not to lose faith in the Government over the hard times we currently face and insecurity challenges in the country and reiterated the concrete efforts and measures that are already underway to tackle and contain threats and issues of insecurity in Nigeria and effort towards stabilizing the economy and ensuring there is food security in the country.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Dr. Solomon Arase said the launch of the Police Veterans’ Foundation will always be chronicled as a great milestone for the members of the Nigeria Police Force, both serving and retired noting that the event is partly a solemn one as it accords us 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.
In his words, “Perhaps, a historical background to the conceptualization of the Nigeria Police Veterans’ Foundation will help us situate where we are coming from to enable us fully appreciate its import and timeliness to retired Police officers. Upon my appointment and assumption of office as the chairman of the Police Service Commission on 29th March 2023, it became necessary that the experiential knowledge of the retired members of the Nigeria Police Force be sought. I believe that the experience of retired Police officers which spans through different decades would be of invaluable assistance in evolving policies that will help in repositioning the Nigeria Police for optimal functionality in delivering on its mandate.
Bolaji O. Kazeem
Deputy Director (Press)
