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  • INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY 2022: NPF, FirstBank salutes the power of youths

    INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY 2022: NPF, FirstBank salutes the power of youths

    The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and FirstBank on Friday celebrated International Youth Day 2022 by saluting the power of young people across the world.

     

    On its Twitter page, the NPF said, “today, the International Youth Day 2022, we salute the power, potential, and enthusiasm of young people worldwide.”

     

    FirstBank said “You are unstoppable, make every moment of your youth count. At FirstBank, we will continue to put YOUth first as you bank the future with us. Happy International Youth Day.”

     

    The UN General Assembly started International Youth Day in 1999.

     

    According to the UN General Assembly, the purpose of International Youth Day is to raise awareness of any issues that may be facing the world’s youth to celebrate their achievements.

     

    International Youth Day on August 12 focuses on the difficulties that some young people are experiencing throughout the world.

     

    Half the children between the age of six and 13 lack basic reading and math skills and childhood poverty is still a prevalent problem globally.

     

    International Youth Day was created by the UN to help draw awareness to these issues as we strive to find solutions.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that International Youth Day is a day for reflection but also a day for taking action so get involved.

     

    August 12 International Youth Day is an initiative that honors the traits of young people and that acknowledges the challenges that today’s fledging youth face.

     

    To support the elimination of these issues, it is important that the youth is able to reach the right resources for education, wellbeing, medicine and more.

     

    International Youth Day began in 2000 and was organized by the UN to recognize the input that young people make in education, community development, environmental groups, and volunteering for different social projects.

     

    International Youth Day 2021 is planned on August 12.

     

    What you need to know about International Youth Day
    In 1965 the United Nations General Assembly began making a concerted effort to impact the youth. They endorsed the Declaration on the Promotion among Youth of the Ideals of Peace, Mutual Respect and Understanding between Peoples.

     

    They began devoting time and resources to empower the youth by recognizing up-and-coming leaders and offering them resources to meet the needs of the world.

     

    On December 17, 1999, the UN General Assembly endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, and International Youth Day was formed.

     

    It was first celebrated on August 12, 2000, and ever since the day has been used to educate society. Mobilize the youth in politics, and manage resources to address global problems.

     

    The day is often accompanied by major events. In 2013 an International Youth Conference was hosted by YOUTHINK, featuring many key speakers and an awards ceremony.

     

    More recent events have been hosted by the Indian Youth Cafe in Chennai. The theme for 2019 was “transforming education.”

     

    Last year, the theme of International Youth Day 2020 was “Youth Engagement for Global Action”.

     

    The aim of this theme was to call attention to the ways in which the participation of young people at the national and international levels is complimenting national and multilateral institutions and processes.

     

    Another important aim was to draw lessons on how their involvement in institutional politics can be increased.

     

    Practices of International Youth Day
    International Youth Day gives a platform to the voices of the youth. It engages youngsters and aims to take initiatives and actions that will increase opportunities for them.

     

    The youth of the world faces different challenges and barriers to prosperity, depending on which part of the world they are living in.

     

    Young people living in developed and developing countries are more prone to facing mental- and social challenges, whereas young people living in underdeveloped countries face extreme problems rooted in a lack of more basic needs such as education, health, and employment.

     

    These issues and challenges are widely discussed on local, institutional, and governmental levels. Seminars, training sessions, debates, discussion forums featuring influential figures as key speakers, fundraisers, and the distribution of educational material for informing and creating awareness take place on International Youth Day.

     

    Through a better understanding of the problems that are hurdles for youth development, policy changes can be more easily implemented.

  • Detectives nab driver who attempted to sell employer’s new car

    Detectives nab driver who attempted to sell employer’s new car

    LUCK yesterday ran out of a driver, Ortema Paul, 41, while on his way to sell off his employer’s brand new vehicle as detectives from the Lagos State Police Command nabbed him before he could execute his plans.

    The suspect was arrested alongside his guarantor, Iorfa Paul, 40, and Ojo Solomon, 29, who was contracted to locate and disable the tracker in the vehicle.

    According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, all the suspects were arrested together in the vehicle while trying to sell it.

    “The vehicle was bought brand new and is just three weeks old. It belongs to a security company. Suspects will be arraigned at the end of the investigation.

    “The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Abiodun Alabi, fdc assures residents of Lagos that the Command will continue to work towards the decimation of crime and criminality in the Centre of Excellence.,” SP Hundeyin added.

    Lagos police detectives arrest driver over attempt to sell employer’s vehicle

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the arrest followed the launching of a swift investigation into the matter immediately after a report of the stealing was received.

    It would be recalled that the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Usman Baba, appointed Abiodun Alabi to take over from Hakeem Odumosu as Lagos State Commissioner of Police, as the latter was promoted to the rank of AIG.

    With the promotion,  Odumosu was redeployed from the Lagos State Command as the CP.

     

    Alabi was until his latest appointment the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police.

  • Notorious armed robbers terrorizing Apapa area of Lagos killed

    Notorious armed robbers terrorizing Apapa area of Lagos killed

    Daredevil armed robbers terrorizing the Apapa area of Lagos State have been killed by men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the daredevil robbers engaged operatives of Area B Apapa of the Lagos State Police Command in a gun duel in a bid to escape arrest.

    The robbers, however, fell to the superior firepower of the police operatives, according to a statement released on Sunday by SP Benjamin Hundeyin, Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, Ikeja-Lagos.

    “The robbers, Sodiq ’m’ aka Foreigner, recently released from prison and Habeeb ‘m’ aka Kiki, who have both been wanted for terrorizing Ajegunle and environs were trailed to their hideout in Ajegunle, where they met their Waterloo.

    “One Beretta pistol, one locally made revolver pistol with four rounds of 9mm live ammunition and one expended shell of ammunition were recovered from the robbers,” the statement reads.

    Attached below is a CCTV footage of their recent robbery.

    In another development, the Katsina Police Command on Saturday raided terrorists’ hideouts at Tandama village in Danja Local Government Area and rescued six kidnapped victims

    A statement by the Command spokesman, Superintendent Gambo Isah, said the raid of the terrorists’ hideouts was based on credible intelligence.

    He said: “On Saturday 6/08/2022 at about 0530hrs, based on credible intelligence, the Command raided terrorists hideouts at Unguwan Dako, Tandama village, Danja LGA and succeeded in rescuing 6 kidnapped victims.

    “They are: Alhaji Garba Dan Mallam, M,52 of Unguwan Nuhu, Danja LGA ,Rabiu Idris,45 of the same address, Abba Samaila, 38,Yunusa Sani, 54 of Layin Sani village, Kafur Ishaq Yakub, 40,Danjuma Samaila, 45,all of the same address”.

  • Nigeria Police partners TSDF on drugs and drug prevention (PHOTOS)

    Nigeria Police partners TSDF on drugs and drug prevention (PHOTOS)

    The Nigeria Police Force has partnered with The Drug Salvation Foundation (TDSF) on a sensitization drive focused on Drugs and Drug Prevention, Treatment and Care (DPTC), with a 5-day train-the-trainers workshop.

     

    In a post on Twitter, Sunday, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, noted that the event took place at the Police Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja between Monday 1st and Friday 5th August 2022.

     

    It was gathered that the workshop, which was organized with support from the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), was the first part of a series that will not only expose Police Officers to an effective response to drugs and organized crime but strengthen police capacity and highlight road maps for effective reforms.

     

    The train-the-trainers workshop which was declared open on Monday 1st August, 2022 at Peacekeeping Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja, will cascade down to all Police Commands across the Six (6) geo-political zones of the country through Police Training Institutions.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the training participants comprised thirty (30) Police Officers drawn from different Departments, Zones, Commands and Formations of the Force.

     

    The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, reiterated his commitment to training and human capacity development to sustain the collective fight to curb drug misuse which has formed the major stimulant for springing up of various dimensions of crimes and criminality in our society.

     

    The IGP equally appreciated the training partners for the reform efforts geared at bestowing the nation with a modernized, citizen-led, rule of law-guided, and professional Police Force.

     

    See photos below:

    Nigeria Police partners TSDF on drugs and drug prevention (PHOTOS)

  • Insecurity: If you cant help the police, keep mute – Police PRO

    Insecurity: If you cant help the police, keep mute – Police PRO

    The Police Public Relations Officer in Delta State, DSP Bright Edafe has lashed out at Nigerians who will never allow their loved ones to join the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and help fight insecurity in the country but continue to criticize the Police.

    DSP Edafe argued that policemen die almost every day and even at night for simply trying to ensure that Nigerians sleep with their eyes closed. He stressed that when the chips are down, the police will always be out, no matter how dangerous it is.

    “So if you can’t help the Police, the least you can do is to keep mute and allow them do their job,” Edafe tweeted, adding: “for those who have sworn never to allow their loved ones join the police and help fight insecurity, they don’t have any justification whatsoever to criticize the Police”.

    Insecurity: If you cant help the police, keep mute - Police PRO

  • Police warn skit, movie makers against use of uniforms, accoutrements

    Police warn skit, movie makers against use of uniforms, accoutrements

    The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has warned skit and movie makers against the incessant and unauthorized use of Police uniforms and accoutrements.

    This was contained in a statement released on Sunday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

    According to the statement, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) ordered the immediate prosecution of offenders.

    The statement reads: “The Nigeria Police Force has expressed concern over the incessant and unauthorised possession and use of Police uniforms and accoutrements by some individuals, movies and skit makers, as well as the illegal sale of Police materials and accoutrements by traders in shops, open stores not approved nor recognized by Police authority.

    “The IGP has equally frowned at the demeaning manner in which movie makers and skit makers portray the Police institution in their movies and skits, using the police uniform without recourse to the provision of Section 251 of the Criminal Code law, and Section 133 of the Penal Code Law which criminalise such unauthorised use with accompanying necessary sanctions.

    “The IGP therefore charged all commands and formations, the IGP Monitoring Unit, Provost marshals and X-Squad, to arrest and immediately prosecute, in accordance with the law, all persons or group of persons engaging in the illegal sales of police uniforms and accoutrements within their jurisdictions, while film or skit makers who portray the Nigeria Police Force officers in bad light, without applying for, and being duly issued a permit letter for such portrayals, to desist with immediate effect or face the full wrath of the law.

    “The IGP further reiterates the commitment of the Force to guaranteeing compliance with law, as the Force Public Relations Officer has been charged with the task of ensuring prompt authorisation for all applications for approvals of usage of police items in movies, in tandem with the extant laws and which will portray good values, impress positively on the Nigerian public, add value to our system, provide police officers with modern innovations to actively carry out policing duties and on-screen role models who would influence their lives and career; and consequently improve security mechanisms in Nigeria.

    “The Inspector-General of Police strongly believes that such sanity in movies production, regulation of sales, possession and usage of police uniforms and accoutrements will definitely impact positively on resuscitating moral values, and correcting wrong perceptions and ideologies towards commissioning of crimes in our society. It is obvious that this step will surely curb proliferation of Police kits, uniforms and accoutrements and eventually reduce police impostors-induced crimes in our society”.

  • Government on sabbatical – By Owei Lakemfa

    Government on sabbatical – By Owei Lakemfa

    We may never know what happened. But let me tell you what we know. On Sunday, April 24, 2022 in Owerri, the Imo State capital, there was a traffic snarl and unfortunately, officers of two Federal security agencies, the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence, NSCDC, were caught in it.

    Given the age-long rivalry among the armed security services, there was an altercation on who will get off the road for the other. Forcing other motorists off the road in traffic, is a way the military and security services terrorise the Nigerian civil populace. But they sometimes turn on themselves in what Afro-beat legend, Fela Anikulapo, called ‘Power Show’.

    Traditionally, the military brutalises the police, and the police beats the NSCDC. But in this instance, given the fact that the NSCDC had a convoy conveying the Commandant, Mr Ogah, it easily subdued the lone police officer, Superintendent Ezenwanne Nonso, who was in mufti.

    But the latter put up a gallant fight and followed the convoy to the state headquarters of the NSCDC. In the cause of this, the hard fighting Nonso drew a gun but was over powered and his cell phone seized. This is how far we can verify the facts; the rest are the claims of both agencies laced with their usual inelegant lies.

    The story of the NSCDC is that once it confirmed the identity of Nonso, it released him. The impression is that the policeman was not detained. The police version contradicted this.

    The next day, Officer Nonso’s colleagues from Squadron-18 Mobile Police, Owerri, invaded the NSCDC office. Expectedly, shots and teargas were fired before the policemen overran the command. They brutalized Commandant Ogah who was dragged on the floor out of his office in boxers, and killed his orderly.

    In gleefully reporting on its gallant victory, the police statement gave a graphic picture: “The Civil Defence personnel scampered for safety and in the process the police superintendent was rescued gallantly from their custody leaving nobody hurt or injured.”

    The brutalised commandant and his murdered orderly are “nobody”, so they are not listed as casualties of the memorable clash. End of story. The dutiful orderly has been despatched to heaven. Neither he nor his family will get justice. The poor man has become part of the statistics of lives needlessly snatched by Nigerian security forces.

    The Commissioner of Police Mohammed Ahmed Barde, added a comical side by directing his men to investigate the incident, promising that the outcome “will be made public”. That is the usual official line. But if there is an investigation at all, the report will not be made public.

    When in June 2020, First Lady Aisha Buhari led her children and armed guards in a failed attempt to seize President Buhari’s relative and Personal Assistant, Sabiu Tunde Yusuf, in the Presidential Villa, shots were fired at the fleeing Yusuf. President Buhari promised an investigation and that Nigerians would be informed on the outcome. This is two years now and no word has been heard from him on the outcome of the ‘investigation’.

    In any case, is it not a joke that the police which is involved in the Imo State invasion and has issued an official statement on the incident would be the same agency to ‘investigate’ it?

    Ordinarily, given the fact that Nigeria is a country with a government running under a Constitution and law, I would have called for a probe. But from all indications, the Buhari government, which has worked very hard in the last seven years, is fagged out and might actually be on sabbatical preceding its terminal leave before its welcome exit within the next 12 months.

    A similar lack of accountability and manifest tiredness was apparent last month when government re-opened the remaining four land borders at Idiroko, Jibia, Kamba and Ikom. Earlier, government had in December 2020, re-opened the four other land borders in Seme, Ilella, Maigatari and Mfun.

    The Buhari government had in 2019, announced the border closures as the necessary step to check the incessant smuggling of arms and contraband goods. If there were good governance and a sense of accountability, one would have expected government to give a report on its closing our borders for a cumulative three years and the effects on the populace, our economy, regional and continental integration processes.

    It is the same lack of accountability we witnessed in 1984 when President Buhari as the then Military Head of State, shut the country’s borders. So in the close to four decades between the two border closures, what has the country learnt? What has it gained? What steps should government, public agencies and the populace collectively take to check cross-border crimes and prevent future border closures?

    In my analysis, it is this same sense of impunity, lack of accountability, manifest anarchism and absence of government that is responsible for the pointed disobedience of our laws, not by the lumpen proletariat, but by some Honourable Ministers of the Federal Republic. For instance, their pointed trampling of the Electoral Act into the dust shows the state of mind of the Buhari government and why it is necessary for it to return to the path of legality.

    Section 84 (12) of Electoral Act states that public appointees wishing to contest elections should resign. President Buhari who clearly is not pleased with the law he himself signed, verbally ordered the National Assembly, NASS, to expunge that section of the law. In a rare display of independence, the NASS declined Buhari’s imperial directives.

    As a child growing up in Lagos, there was a market called Jankara where it was said that anything from forged certificates and documents, human parts to ghosts could be procured or purchased. When NASS would not do Buhari’s bidding, the Abia State division of the Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia on March 18, 2022 gave a ‘Jankara’ order to the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, Abubakar Malami, to immediately delete that Section 84 (12).

    To cover the shame of the judiciary, few weeks later, the Owerri Division of the Court of Appeal led by Justice Rita Pemu ordered Malami, and other parties in the suit to suspend the execution of the judgement.

    But Buhari’s ministers like those of Labour, Chris Ngige, and Minister of State for Education, Mr. Emeka Nwajiuba, who are running for the presidency, publicly declared they would not obey the law validly passed by NASS and signed by the President. If the Buhari government were on duty and not, like I suspect, on leave of absence with pay, I would have asked the President to pick up the courage and dismiss his lawless ministers.

  • INTERVIEW: New dress code for female police officers will not augur well – Ozoana

    INTERVIEW: New dress code for female police officers will not augur well – Ozoana

    Sebastian Ozoana, a legal practitioner and Notary Public has said the new dress code introduced by IGP Usman Baba Alkali for female police officers in Nigeria will not augur well.

    Ozoana, who served as a police officer with an interest in security management before proceeding to study law at the University of Lagos (Unilag), advised the IGP to think of how to increase the number of police officers in the country rather than trying to bring religion into the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

    The legal practitioner made this known in an interview with TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) when he also spoke on why suspended DCP Abba Kyari cannot be extradited to the U.S; the implications of Justice Inyang Ekwo’s judgment that sacked Ebonyi Governor, David Umahi; the cross-carpeting in Nigerian politics, and more.

    Excerpts:

    Last week, the nation’s polity was rocked by a judgment by Justice Inyang Ekwo that sacked David Umahi as Ebonyi Governor. Though the governor is on the verge of setting aside the judgment, what do you think will be the implications of the judgment stays?

    There is a difference between law and morality. There is something we call “lex est lex quod est” (The law as it is written). A lot of lawyers have spoken in favour of it.

    The argument is about politicians carpet-crossing. When you win an election with another party and want to move to another party with the mandate, the Supreme Court has said that the votes in winning an election belong to the contestant and not the political party.

    But all the same, the political party has a part to play because some people may vote because of the political party.

    In my view, we should look at the law and not be sentimental about it. We know that it is wrong morally, for any politician to leave the political party he belongs to and win an election- to decamp to another political party.

    I am wondering why we are yet to amend the Constitution, to state it categorically, that if any politician wins an election with a party and should cross carpet, he should go and face the electorates to do that.

    If the judgment stays, I think it will be a moral judicial approach for those who do not like cross carpeting that Nigerian politicians engage in. It is subject to appeal, to the Supreme Court.

    Like I read from the newspapers, the “ousted” Ebonyi Governor has assembled a team of lawyers to go on appeal and set aside the decision of the lower court, this is the right thing he should have done than insulting the judge.

    You just talked about carpet crossing, which seems to be the order of the day in Nigeria’s politics. Does it not paint a picture of zero political ideology among our politicians and can such take this country forward?

    Carpet crossing or changing from one political party to another is not so common in other parts of the world. I cannot remember when last I heard of carpet crossing in the U.S or great Britain.

    Honestly, to be frank with you, I cannot remember when last but it is very common, particularly, in Nigeria. It is not a common feature in American politics nor is it a common feature of British politics.

    Carpet crossing is more common in this part of the world, particularly in Nigeria. This is because of the lack of ideology. Both the politicians and political party, ask them what is ideology- they do not even know the meaning of ideology.

    That is why you will see our politicians jump from party A to party B. If they know the proper meaning of ideology, they will not do be jumping from party to party.

    You have differences in ideology. In Britain, the Conservative Party, the Labour Party. Labour Party is always for the poor people, the workers, they have their own ideology. The Conservative Party, they have its own ideology but not the same in Nigeria. PDP, APC, all of them are the same thing.

    Does it then add to the clarion call on youths to be involved in contesting for political positions in the country with the elites?

    From what is happening now, it is becoming clearer that younger people are expected to take over politics in Nigeria, as against these old-timers who have been recycled many times.

    Obasanjo was even saying the other day that the youths are in a position now to take over the leadership of this country. The former Military Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, has also said that Nigeria does not need a walking stick president. By that, he meant he would not like to see someone who is not healthy, somebody who is old but a younger person.

    Someone even went as far as saying that anyone contesting for the position of president should not be more than 60 years. That is all indicative of the fact that Nigeria now wants younger people in the position of political authority.

    On March 4, the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, approved a new dress code for policewomen. Female officers are now allowed to wear stud earrings and headscarves under their berets or peak caps while in uniform. What is your reaction to this development?

    The IGP should have better things to think about and not this uniform. He forgot that under the Constitution, Nigeria is a circular state.

    By making a law that female police officers should start to dress in Hijab, he is trying to bring religion into one of the most important security agencies of this country. I do not think that will augur well. He should be thinking of how to increase the number of police officers and men.

    For many years now, they have not enlisted police officers and men, some officers have retired, some have been killed, some have been dismissed.

    The President has ordered the enlistment of 10,000 or 20,000 policemen. Since he gave that order, I do not know how many have been enlisted- he should be thinking of enlisting police officers, to enhance the strength of the force.

    United Nations ratio of police to population is one to four hundred. In Nigeria, it is more than that. I think the last research was that Nigeria was about five hundred to one, as against one to four hundred- United Nations ratio. I do not think the IGP has done well in this his new dress code order.

    A retired DIG was of the opinion that the IGP was wrong, that he was acting contrary to the Constitution. In my opinion, I do not think that is what the IGP should be thinking about for now. It is wrong. It is politicizing; brings politics into the Nigerian police force.

    All over the world, you will see how female police officers are dressed. During the Gulf war, you will see female American military officers; you will not know who is a female or male. All retired police officers so far, not even a single one, have supported the IGP on the new dress code for female police officers.

    On the extradition of suspended DCP Abba Kyari to the U.S following a multi-million-dollar money laundering fraud allegation brought against him by Instagram celebrity, Ramon Abass, aka Huspuppi- what do you make out of the scenarios so far presented?

    There is a lot of conspiracy theory in this Abba Kyari matter. Some people, some senior advocates and lawyers have said the federal government is just trying to confuse the people by filing a letter for his extradition and at the same time the NDLEA dragging him to the Court.

    The NDLEA case cannot be ongoing and you say you want to extradite him, No! There are confusions in that sense. Some people have said that charges filed by the NDLEA is to prevent him from being extradited to the U.S.

    I cannot recall if the U.S has properly requested Abba Kyari’s extradition. The important thing is that the two cases coming at the same time are confusing.

    What is your position on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine?

    Russia’s attack on Ukraine does not come as a surprise at all because Ukraine was formerly part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ( U.S.S.R.) before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, which remade the world map.

    Ukraine is a very serious economy to be watched at. So, Russia wants to have a stronger economic power over Ukraine.

    There is rumour that Ukraine wants to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) which Russia does not like because they feel it will be to their own disadvantage.

    In fact, the reason for the ongoing war is to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO. Joining any military or organization should be an option for a country to decide, not for another independent sovereign nation to decide for you.

    Russia should allow Ukraine to join any military economy association they like to belong to; they should not dictate to them what to do.

    Am happy that the west did not support Ukraine’s military but the provision of sanctions will make Russia learn. Banning Russian oil from the U.S will affect the former.

    Nigerian government should cash in on the imposition of sanctions on Russia by the west or America, taking high the price of oil in the international oil market. We are told in Nigeria that the more the price of oil goes up in the international; it is a disadvantage to us. I cannot understand that type of economics.

  • I-G condoles with family, friends of DIG Joseph Egbunike

    I-G condoles with family, friends of DIG Joseph Egbunike

    The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Usman Baba has condoled with the family, relatives, and friends of Joseph Egbunike, a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) who died on Tuesday.

    The Acting Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

    “The I-G, on behalf of the Force Management Team, and Officers of the Nigeria Police Force, regrets to announce the demise of DIG Joseph Egbunike, which occurred on Tuesday at about 9 p.m.

    “Egbunike died in active service at the National Hospital, Abuja, after a brief illness.

    “Until his death, the late DIG was in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department and the supervisory DIG in charge of the South-East,” he said.

    He said Egbunike was a dedicated and seasoned police officer who served the nation in various capacities including as the Commissioner of Police in charge of Police Accounts and Budget.

    Egbunike who hailed from Onitsha, Anambra, held a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB Hons.), B.L., a Masters in International Law and Diplomacy (MILD), and a PhD in Criminology.

  • NPF has no reason to leave Contributory Pension Scheme – PenCom

    NPF has no reason to leave Contributory Pension Scheme – PenCom

    Mrs Aisha Dahir-Umar, the Director-General (D-G), National Pension (PenCom), says that the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has no reason to exit the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

    Dahir-Umar spoke at a public hearing on a bill to exclude the NPF from CPS as well as allow a retiree to be paid at least 75 per cent of his/her retirement benefits.

    The D-G said that the Federal Government had so far made the CPS sustainable for its workers, including those in the private sector which had led to huge sums of money saved and invested in the country.

    She said that the agitations of the NPF could be solved administratively and the agitation to leave was unnecessary.

    “Through the CPS, government has successfully introduced transparency and efficiency. As such, the attempt for police to leave didn’t start today and it has been a recurrent decimal.

    “Reason put forward by the police is the quantum of the benefits payable to officers of the force who have retired is small, as such it is a small issue that salary increment can solve,’’ she said.

    According to Dahir-Umar, exiting the CPS is not a solution for the NPF because “Pension is a function of salary and as long as the salary of officers continues, then there is no need to exit.

    “Acknowledging the challenges of the CPS, it is not perfect because there is no system that is efficient completely.”

    Dahir-Umar said that since 2004, the commission had increased contributions to 18 per cent from 15 per cent, adding that the the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014 also allows for additional benefit payment.

    “Eighteen per cent is a mandatory minimal that every employer is expected to pay, based on affordability, employer can do more,’’

    According to the D-G, the second Bill is to “amend Sections I (C) 7 (2) 8 (1) 18, 24 and 99 of the PRA CAP50 LFN 2014 providing that a pensioner shall receive at least 75 per cent of his/her retirement benefits immediately upon retirement and criminalise undue delay in the payment of Pensions (BR 1000).

    “Section 173 of the 1999 Constitution as amended says everyone who has worked and retired is entitled to periodic payment and the second bill goes contrary to the constitution,” Dahir-Umar.

    According to her, the operators cannot be criminalised because they can only pay when government gives them money so if they don’t pay, you can’t send them to jail.”

    The Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, represented by Hon. Peter Akpatason, said that the exercise was to improve welfare of senior citizens.

    “We hope the bill will provide the needed solution and it is expected that it will enhance the pension industry.’’

    The Chairman, House Committee on Pension, Mr Kabiru Rurum said the public hearing was to get opinions and provide an avenue for senior citizens to make their submissions.

    “I urge stakeholders to critically make inputs that will improve the lives of retirees.”

    The Inspector-General of Police, Baba Alkali, represented by the Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Police in charge of Operations, Salisu Lemu, said that the NPF should get equal treatment with the Armed Forces due to unpleasant experiences of officers in the scheme.

    He said that the position of the force was that they should exit and handle their pension funds independently.

    The Chief Executive Officer of Pension Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp), Mr Oguche Agudah, said it was not sustainable for the NPF to exit the CPS.

    He said that the country had moved from the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), adding “if we are to return, the Federal Government will need a minimum of N2 trillion’’.