What will you do to stop police bribery and address retired officers’ pension and PenCom issues?

Thank you for raising both of these, let me take them one at a time.

On police officers and bribery, my commitment is to reform and reorient the police into a true public service, moving away from a regime-protection force and toward citizen-focused policing. Part of that is establishing clear controls around arrests and detention, including mandatory use of body cameras and cameras in interrogation rooms, and clear, enforceable guidelines on the use of force and firearms. I also support demilitarizing the police, including decentralizing deployment so mid- to lower-level officers serve closer to their states of residence. And I intend to decentralize policing more broadly, building a multi-layered security system that reflects Nigeria's federal structure and ensures accountability at all levels.

On retired police officers and pensions, I have not set out anything specific to their removal from PenCom or the protests you mention. What I have said applies to pensioners generally, and it applies to retired police officers too. I have called out the government for claiming pensions are being paid "on time and in full" when pensioners have had to protest over unpaid adjustments, and I have demanded that outstanding entitlements be paid and that what remains unpaid be published.

Beyond that, I am committed to guaranteeing pension dignity and restoring the value of retirement income, so that a lifetime of work leads to security, not hardship. That means:

- Rebasing legacy pensions to reflect today's cost of living, correcting years of erosion
- Introducing a minimum pension guarantee so all retirees receive a living income
- Linking pension adjustments to inflation over time to protect purchasing power
- Prioritizing timely and consistent pension payments across all levels of government
- Treating retirement security as a core pillar of social protection and human dignity

I also take seriously that pension funds must be managed within the law. I have insisted that government act strictly within the Pension Reform Act and PenCom's regulations, including the rule that pension funds can invest no more than 5% of total assets in infrastructure, so that retirees' savings are protected and not exposed to shortcuts.

Where this comes from

Post on X Post by @atiku on X · https://x.com/atiku/status/1790719072876810542 2024-05-15 ›

It is another attempt to perpetrate illegality by the Federal Government. The government must be cautioned to act strictly within the provisions of the Pension Reform Act of 2014 (PRA 2014), along with the revised Regulation on Investment of Pension Assets issued by the National Pension Commission (PenCom). In particular, the Federal Government must not act contrary to the provisions of the extant Regulation on investment limits to wit: Pension Funds can invest no more than 5% of total pension funds’ assets in infrastructure investments. I note that as of December 2023, total pension funds assets were approximately N18 Trillion, of which 75% of these are investments in FGN Securities. There is NO free Pension Funds thst is more than 5% of the total value of the nation's pension fund for Mr. Edun to fiddle with. There are no easy ways for Mr. Edun to address the challenges of funding infrastructure development in Nigeria. He can’t cut corners. He must introduce the necessary reforms to restore investor confidence in the Nigerian economy and to leverage private resources, skills, and technology. -AA

Post on X Post by @atiku on X · https://x.com/atiku/status/1821191558084866465 2024-08-07 ›

I am heartened by the acknowledgement by the Nigerian Army of the tragic incident involving the loss of a young protester's life. May I also suggest that other killings that have taken place by either the military, the police and other security agencies during the #EndBadGovernanceProtest be investigated in the same spirit of accountability. The decision to detain the soldier responsible for this regrettable event is a commendable step towards ensuring accountability and upholding the rule of law. My longstanding advice to the service chiefs and military commanders has been clear: there must be no authorization to use lethal force against peaceful protesters. The principle of accountability must be upheld at all times, and the actions taken by the Nigerian Army in apprehending and, I trust, prosecuting the soldier responsible for this incident align with this fundamental principle. Even in times of conflict, it is imperative to adhere to the rules of engagement. Soldiers should not be involved in the suppression of civil rights protests. -AA

Post on X Post by @atiku on X · https://x.com/atiku/status/1953502117232312806 2025-08-07 ›

The treatment of @YeleSowore by the IGP Monitoring Team is a shameful abuse of power. It is wrong, unlawful, and must be condemned by all who believe in justice. Sowore’s only offence is speaking out against injustice, nepotism, and misrule. For that, he was reportedly attacked at dawn, beaten, had his arm broken, and sprayed with chemicals by policemen acting on petitions from the IGP’s own office. This is personal vendetta, not policing. Even the Nigeria Police Regulation forbids this. Regulation 367 states: "No police officer shall institute any legal proceeding in his own personal interest or in connection with matters arising out of his public duties." The IGP cannot be a complainant and still deploy the force to carry out his grievance. This is not about Sowore alone, it is an attack on every Nigerian who dares to speak truth to power. This must stop. And Sowore should be released immediately, and unconditionally, too. -AA

Article on X Article by @atiku on X · https://x.com/atiku/status/2105647953729769974 2026-10-01 ›

Again, Bola, you told Nigerians that salaries and pensions are being paid “on time and in full.” Tell that to the military pensioners who protested over unpaid adjustments. Tell it to federal workers who have reported delayed salaries, wage awards and promotion arrears. A pensioner standing outside a government office to demand what is owed does not need a lecture about prosperity. Pay the outstanding entitlements, publish what remains unpaid, and stop claiming that everyone has been paid in full. A growing government account is not a recovering Nigerian. A speech about prosperity is not prosperity. Show Nigerians where the savings went. Show them the relief. Or stop calling their pain a cure. Our independence also demands political freedom. Nigerians must be free to question their leaders, organise peacefully and demand change. Public office belongs to the people. No President owns the voices of citizens.

p. 30 MANIFESTO OF THE AFRICAN DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (ADC) Party Manifesto 2027-2031 2026-10-05 ›

2. Reform and reorient the police into a true public service. Transition from a colonial-style, regime-protection force to a citizen-focused policing system. 3. Demilitarize the police. Details: ● Gradually end police barracks as the default system of accommodation ● Decentralize deployment by assigning mid- to lower-level officers closer to their states of residence 4. Establish clear controls around arrests and detention. Details: ● Mandatory use of body cameras and installation of cameras in interrogation rooms ● Clear and enforceable guidelines on the use of force and firearms 5. Decentralize Policing and Strengthen Democratic Security Governance We will establish a multi-layered security system that reflects Nigeria's federal structure, improves response times, and ensures accountability at all levels. Details:

p. 35 5.1. EDUCATION (UNDER HUMAN Party Manifesto 2027-2031 2026-10-05 ›

Details: ● Introduce subsidized public transport for students and senior citizens nationwide ● Partner with state governments and transport operators to implement targeted fare reductions ● Use digital ID and verification systems to ensure subsidies reach eligible beneficiaries efficiently ● Prioritize high-traffic urban routes and intercity travel corridors used by students and the elderly ● Position transport support as a core part of social protection, linking mobility to opportunity and wellbeing 4. Guarantee pension dignity and restore the value of retirement income. Ensure that a lifetime of work leads to security, not hardship, by protecting retirees from the erosion of their incomes. Details: ● Rebase legacy pensions to reflect today's cost of living, correcting years of erosion ● Introduce a minimum pension guarantee to ensure all retirees receive a living income ● Link pension adjustments to inflation over time to protect purchasing power ● Prioritize timely and consistent pension payments across all levels of government ● Position retirement security as a core pillar of social protection and human dignity

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What will you do to stop police bribery and address retired officers’ pension and PenCom issues?

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