Police - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Ismail Abdulaziz
Nov, Wed, 2024

PenCom urges police to remain with CPS

231 total views today

By Nana Musa

Ms Omolola Oloworaran, Acting Director-General of National Pension Commission (PenCom), has urged the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), to remain with the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

Oloworaran said this during a public hearing on a bill for an Act to establish Police Pension Board, in Abuja on Tuesday.

Oloworaran, represented by the Commissioner of Administration, Dr Farouk Aminu, also reiterated PenCom’s commitment to Police welfare.

She said that pension must be affordable, sustainable and adequate.

“PenCom has consistently proposed practical solutions, including increasing pension contribution rates, offering additional retirement benefits, and implementing periodic pension reviews under the existing CPS framework.

“These measures are designed to enhance the financial well-being of retired police personnel without compromising fiscal discipline or administrative efficiency.

“Notably, the establishment of an Augmentation Fund and the enhancement of the Retiree Resettlement Scheme demonstrate PenCom’s commitment to addressing the unique needs of the police.

“The welfare of Nigeria Police personnel is paramount, the proposed bill is a step in the wrong direction.

“The CPS offers a balanced approach to achieving pension adequacy, affordability, and sustainability,” Oloworaran said.

She said that implementing PenCom’s recommendations was a more viable path to meeting the needs of police personnel while safeguarding the broader national interest.

Oloworaran said that the senate should prioritise those solutions and uphold the principles of Nigeria’s pension reform.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service, Sen. Cyril Fasuyi, said that the bill was to establish a board to oversee Police pension.

Fasuyi said that the committee intended to create an enabling environment for retired police officers.

Fasuyi said that the public hearing provides more information and an opportunity to various stakeholders.

Sen. Sen. Binos Yaroe, who sponsored the bill, said that retired Commissioners of Police take N70,000 while Assistant Superintendents of Police collect about N40, 000 to N50, 000 as pension.

He said that Military, Department of State Service (DSS), Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and National Intelligence Agency (NIA) had pulled out of CPS.

He, however, said that the NPF, which is the lead security agency in section 214 of the cconstitution, is left under CPS regulated by PenCom.

This, according to him, places retired police officers on wrong post-service employment in spite of their crucial role.

He said that the matter was not just about the police exiting, but improving their salaries.

“Even if they exit, with a poor salary, their pension will still be poor.

“Towards the end of the ninth assembly, the bill was passed but not signed because we started the process late. That’s why we started the process again early March 19 and July 4.”

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, said that the NPF wanted the police pension board established for improved welfare for retired police officers.

Egbetokun was represented by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police, Bala Chiroma.

The National Chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme Sector (NUPCPS), Mr Sylva Nwaiwu, said that CPS should be amended.

Nwaiwu said that CPS was good for the nation, adding that pension increments should always be encouraged.

Alhaji Sani Mustapha, the Executive Director of the Contributory Pension and Happy Retirement Advocacy (COPEHRA), said that CPS had proven to be resilient, transparent and sustainable,

He added that it was also effectively addressing the shortcomings of the previous pension system.

He said that keeping the NPF within the CPS aligns with best practices in pension management, ensuring their financial security while also supporting Nigeria’s broader economic development.

Mustapha said that the transition to a Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) would introduce significant risks, including fiscal unsustainability, delayed payments and potential economic setbacks.

He said that it was imperative to uphold the principles of equity, transparency and sustainability by maintaining the NPF’s inclusion in the CPS.

“My recommendation is to maintain the current system to safeguard the future of our police personnel and promote a robust economic environment in Nigeria.

“Any challenge that the Police may have in the administration of their pensions under the CPS should be discussed and resolved by PenCom and other relevant Government agencies,” Mustapha said.

The director said that there were many benefits in retaining police in the CPS.

He listed the benefits to include regulation and oversight, security and timeliness, economic independence, transparency and accountability, and alignment with global trends.

“The risks of establishing a separate pension board for DBS includes fiscal burden, lack of autonomy, economic instability and precedent setting,” Mustapha said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

Ismail Abdulaziz
Nov, Wed, 2024

Economy/Business

Police exit from contributory pension huge risk- PenOp

197 total views today

By Nana Musa

The Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp), has expressed concerns over proposals from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), to exit the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) to Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS).

Mr Oguche Agudah, the Chief Executive Officer of PenOp, voiced the concern on Tuesday in Abuja during a public hearing on a bill for an act to establish a police pension board.

He said that the CPS operates on a pre-funded model with both employees and employers contributing a mandatory percentage of the employee’s salary.

Agudah said that usually, a minimum of eight per cent from the employee and 10 per cent from the employer, totaling a minimum contribution rate of 18 per cent, is usually gathered.

He said that either party had the latitude to contribute a higher percentage, which allows pension funds to accumulate and be invested for future payouts.

Agudah said that the National Pension Commission (PenCom), as of September, had a total pension assets, under the CPS, that had exceeded ₦20 trillion (approximately $12 billion),

He said that PenCom had ensured that the funds were not solely reliant on government budgets, thus reducing vulnerability to fiscal constraints.

Agudah said that the transitioning to the DBS would not solve the police’s concerns.

“It will, rather, create deeper financial and operational challenges for the country,” he said.

He said that the CPS had proven to be a transparent, sustainable and resilient system for managing pensions, benefiting both retirees and the broader economy.

Agudah said that reverting to the DBS model, which relies on government budgetary allocations, would lead to fiscal unsustainability and delayed payments for pensioners.

“Moving the police out of the CPS will require a staggering N3.5 trillion annually to fund pensions for approximately 400,000 personnel, in a budget already burdened by deficits. This is simply unsustainable.

“It will also divert resources from other critical needs, including minimum wage adjustments and public services,” he said.

Agudah said that pension funds under the CPS are currently invested in bonds, infrastructure and other critical sectors that contribute to the country economic growth.

He said that unwinding the investments to accommodate a DBS for the police would erode the value of assets and destabilise the financial system.

Agudah said that the CPS currently holds over N21 trillion in assets, and remains a critical component of the country’s economic infrastructure.

He said that maintaining the police within the CPS would ensure long-term sustainability, equity and economic stability.

Agudah said that setting a dangerous precedent was not good.

“If the police exit the CPS, other public sector groups may demand similar transitions, fragmenting the pension system and undermining reform efforts.

“And our key aim and our key goal is to ensure that all pensioners are paid on time, all pensioners have a living pension, and everybody gets their pension on time.

“What we heard at the hearing is actually a joy to us because what we are seeing is that even the sponsor of the bill is on the path that it is not really the CPS that is the problem of the police. It is the welfare.

“So, what we have said is, if your salary is small, your pensions will be small,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

Rabi'u Sani Ali
Nov, Mon, 2024

Defence/Security

Stay away from Bayelsa or pay dearly – Police warn economic saboteurs

182 total views today

By Nathan Nwakamma

The Police Command in Bayelsa has warned blue economy saboteurs to avoid the state, saying it would use every legal means to protect Nigeria’s economic interest.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Francis Alonyenu, said this in Yenagoa during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Alonyenu said that being a major player in Nigeria’s blue economy, the command was poised to ensure peace and order.

He said that with its rich maritime, petroleum and gas economic value, the Nigeria Police Force would ensure that these assets are properly harnessed for the good of the people of the state and Nigeria in general.

The commissioner said the command had reduced crime rate to the barest minimum through surveillance drones, to ensure effective policing of the state and its maritime environment.

This, he said, had given individuals and corporate entities the liberty to go about their normal businesses unmolested.

He said the success recorded by the command could be partly attributed to crime mapping which enabled it to understand, for instance, the motivation behind attacks on pipelines and how to address the challenge.

The Commissioner said having contained the activities of economic saboteurs on Bayelsa’s waters, the command was carrying out clearance in the area and assured its determination to maintain the status quo.

NAN recalls that Bayelsa is one of the leading oil-producing states in the country with a sophisticated network of pipelines both on the sea and land.

In the recent past, these facilities that are at the heart of the nation’s economy have come under attack by economic saboteurs to break the pipelines or divert the crude oil.

Nigeria loses an estimated 300,000 barrels of crude oil per day to oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other forms of criminality.

The menace has culminated in revenue losses estimated at N1.29 trillion annually, said Abbas Tajudeen, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

He spoke at the inauguration of the New Headquarters, Naval Training Command Ebubu, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers. (NAN) (www.nannews)

Edited by Uche Anunne

isaac aregbesola
Nov, Sat, 2024

Defence/Security

Police, Centre collaborate to tackle juvenile crimes nationwide

166 total views today

By Monday Ijeh

The Nigeria Police Force in collaboration with an NGO, Centre for Family Peace, have concluded plans to tackle the increasing rate of crimes among juveniles in the country.

The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Olukayode Egbetokun said this at the inauguration of the Steering Committee on the Implementation and Execution of the Annual I-G Conference on Juvenile Crime Prevention and Control Project , on Friday in Abuja.H

He said the theme for the maiden edition of the conference is ‘Effective Family Relationship Strategies for Juvenile Crime Prevention and Control.’

Egbetokun, represented by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Mr Mohammed Dankwara commended the centre for the initiative.

The I-G said the Nigeria Police was aware of the devastating effect of crimes and offences, perpetrated by young people, teenagers, juveniles or adolescents on communities across the country.

Egbetokun acknowledged the urgent need for a comprehensive approach, as well as concerted efforts and commitments to address the root causes of behavioural problems among young people.

According to him, it was on this note that the Nigeria Police approved the partnership with the centre to join forces in tackling the ugly trend among young people.

“There is a consensus among family and child development experts that the cause of juvenile offences is the family. Hence, the solution to the problem can be found in the family too.

`This official inauguration of the conference signals the commencement of the implementation of this novel project, aimed at preventing juvenile crime and promoting positive development of young people in Nigeria.

“To deliver this conference project, there will be need for collaboration with the different extra-familial institutions like government at all levels and their agencies, the church, the school and the media,” he said.

He urged members of the steering committee to take the assignment very seriously to deliver positive outcomes that would arrest the ugly trend of juvenile crime.

In his remark, Mr Chinedum Ikogwe, Executive Director and Founder of the NGO, said the project was borne out of the need to address the challenges of crime and criminality among juveniles.

He said the project was designed to be taken to all the states of the federation, where the governors are expected to host it in their various states.

Ikogwe blamed the ugly trend among juveniles on failure of parents to live up to their responsibilities by engaging in the pursuit of material things and abandoning the home.

According to him, juvenile crime is a family based problem that requires family based solution because it has to do with character deficiency of children.

He said the choice of the Nigeria Police for the partnership followed the fact that the police is the foremost law enforcement agency in the country.

Ikogwe commended the I-G for the speedy approval of the project.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

=======

Edited by Joseph Edeh

isaac aregbesola
Oct, Thu, 2024

General News

Police partner international NGO on 2020 Act

193 total views today

By Angela Atabo

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Department of Training and Development has forged partnership with International Alert, a Non-Governmental Organisation supporting peacebuilding to promote understanding and operationalisation of the Police Act 2020.

Dr Paul Nyulaku-Bemshima, the Country Director of International Alert, made this known during a courtesy visit to AIG Sadiq Abubakar, the Commandant, Police Academy in Wudil in Kano.

Nyulaku-Bemshima, who described the visit to the academy as “strategic”, explained that it was part of the UK-funded integrated security project known as the “Nigeria Reform Initiative”.

“We have been having strategic engagements with the police and this is particularly to understand if learning and training is centred around the Police Act 2020 and Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

“We are here to see areas we can provide technical support toward making teaching and learning in this institution one that will actually be impactful on the future police officers.

“This is a full-blown university and we know that you are doing a lot in terms of training, but we want to know the areas we can support toward bettering our policing system in the country as contained in the police Act 2020.

“The Act stipulates the functions of the police, its mandate, as well as the duties of the public toward having a more responsible police in the country,” he said.

Nyulaku-Bemshima further said that the spate and dynamics of security challenges in the country required a well equipped police personnel to confront emerging security threats.

“You will agree with me that insecurity in Nigeria is becoming sophisticated and the type of officers you will produce should be those that are well equipped to handle the threats.

“We have a group of seasoned experts in police and security studies; they have knowledge that they can share with this institution toward ensuring deeper understanding of the police Act,” he said.

The country director maintained that the would-be police officers must understand their roles as contained in the Act, stressing that such would make them better security personnel after their studies.

Responding, the commandant of the academy, thanked the country director and his team for the visit, particularly for offering to support the NPF toward having a better policing system in the country.

He said that the academy was open to all forms of partnership aimed at equipping the cadets with the requisite knowledge and skills that would make them better officers in the nearest future.

“This is a degree awarding institution positioned to develop the cadets mentally, physically and morally to contribute their quota toward tackling security challenges in the country.

“This academy is responsible for nurturing and developing these young minds toward becoming responsible police officer to handle the internal security situation in the country.

“So, we are open to meaningful partnerships that will improve the knowledge and understanding of future police officers,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Polycarp Auta

Rabi'u Sani Ali
Oct, Mon, 2024

Defence/Security

Police confirm death of woman in Lagos hotel

489 total views today

By Deborah Akpede

The police command in Lagos has confirmed the death of a young woman, whose identity is unknown, in a hotel at the Dopemu area of the state.

The spokesman of the command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this to journalists on Sunday in Lagos.

He said the incident occurred about 9:30 p.m. on Friday.

Hundeyin said the manager of the hotel reported the case to the Dopemu Police Division.

“The manager of the hotel reported that a man walked into the hotel with a lady to have a short rest.

“The identities of the man and the lady were, however, not taken by the hotel.

“He stated further that after an hour, the lady rushed out claiming she was feeling hot. The manager said that he gave her cold water to drink but the lady was still not feeling well.

“The lady was later rushed to a hospital on Dopemu Road where she gave up the ghost while the man that brought her to the hotel absconded, ” Hundeyin said.

He said the police detained the manager of the hotel to faciltate investigation, adding that the corpse of the lady had been deposited at the Lagos Mainland General Hospital mortuary.

According to him, investigation is on to unravel the cause of the death and trace the identity of the deceased as well as apprehend the fleeing lover. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Benson Iziama/Ijeoma Popool