By Kazeem Waris
National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, has promised that an NDC government under the presidency of Peter Obi would remove the Nigeria Police Force from the contributory pension scheme, which has remained a major source of concern among retired police officers.
Dickson said the proposed policy change would ensure that police personnel enjoy decent retirement benefits and are not left struggling to meet their basic needs after years of service to the country.
The former Bayelsa State governor made the pledge on Friday when about 60 retired senior police officers from Bayelsa West Senatorial District paid him a courtesy visit at his country home in Toru-Orua, Bayelsa State.
In a statement issued late Friday by his Media Office, Dickson expressed concern over the hardship confronting retired police officers, particularly those struggling to cater for their families, meet healthcare expenses and cope with the rising cost of living.
He thanked the delegation for the visit and their expression of solidarity with him and the NDC, assuring them that the party’s proposed government would make the welfare of serving and retired police personnel a priority.
Dickson, who represents Bayelsa West in the 10th Senate and is himself a former police officer, maintained that the welfare of those who had dedicated their lives to national service should not be neglected after retirement.
According to him, an NDC administration under Peter Obi would not only improve the welfare of serving police officers but also address the retirement challenges confronting former personnel.
The proposed removal of the police from the contributory pension scheme is expected to feature prominently in the party’s engagement with retired officers ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking after the meeting, a retired Chief Superintendent of Police and member of the delegation, Gold Akponafa, said the visit was organised to honour Dickson, whom he described as a prominent figure in the Ijaw nation.
Akponafa said the senator represented not only Bayelsa West but also the wider interests of Bayelsa State and the Niger Delta at the National Assembly.
He also praised Dickson for establishing the NDC, disclosing that the retired officers had resolved to support his re-election bid and work for the party’s candidates across the state.
“We are proud of Senator Dickson’s political accomplishments. We have unanimously agreed to work for his re-election and support NDC candidates, from the presidential election to the state House of Assembly elections in Bayelsa,” he said.
On the contributory pension controversy, Akponafa commended the senator for speaking on behalf of retired police officers, whom he said had continued to face difficult retirement conditions.
He argued that retired policemen deserved the same attention and consideration given to other categories of retired security personnel.
The contributory pension scheme has remained a contentious issue among retired police officers, with some former personnel complaining that their retirement benefits are inadequate compared with those received by retired members of other armed services.
Dickson’s pledge has therefore brought the long-running pension debate into the political conversation ahead of the 2027 elections, with retired police personnel seeking concrete policy commitments on their welfare.
