A retired Superintendent of Police, Owolabi Odesanmi, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to assent to the Police Pension Board Establishment Bill, popularly known as the Police Exit Bill, saying many retired police officers are living in hardship under the current pension system.

Odesanmi, who lost a leg while chasing a suspected thief during active service and retired from the Ondo State Police Command in January 2025, said his monthly pension of N90,802 was inadequate to cater for his family and medical needs.

Speaking in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, the 58-year-old former officer said he depended largely on assistance from friends, neighbours and well-wishers to survive despite serving the nation for 35 years.

“I am really suffering. The N90,000 pension I receive every month does not last two weeks after I distribute it among my children. We are living like beggars,” he said.

The retired officer explained that he lost his right leg on October 5, 2001, while serving at the Nigerian Ports Authority Area Command in Apapa, Lagos.

According to him, he sustained severe injuries after being hit by a moving trailer while pursuing a suspected thief. The injury later led to the amputation of his leg.

Odesanmi said the Nigerian Ports Authority paid him N390,000 as compensation following the accident, while the police paid N34,000 as insurance benefits.

He added that apart from an initial prosthetic limb provided after the incident, he had received no further support despite the high cost of replacing the artificial limb.

“The prosthetic limb I am currently using is in bad condition. A new one costs about N1m. How can I save that amount from a monthly pension of N90,000?” he asked.

The former Divisional Crime Officer of Okuta-Elerinla Police Division in Akure disclosed that he spent part of his retirement gratuity of N3.33m on purchasing a replacement prosthetic limb after the previous one became damaged.

He lamented that his pension was insufficient to cater for his four children, two of whom are university students, while the others are in secondary and primary schools.

Odesanmi blamed the hardship faced by retired police personnel on their inclusion in the Contributory Pension Scheme managed by the National Pension Commission.

He argued that police officers should be removed from the scheme, as was done for personnel of the military, the Department of State Services and the National Intelligence Agency.

“The way forward is to remove police personnel from PENCOM. The Police Exit Bill has been passed by the National Assembly and only awaits presidential assent. We are appealing to the President to sign it into law,” he said.

The retired officer maintained that police personnel faced similar risks as military and intelligence officers and therefore deserved better retirement benefits.

Drawing comparisons with retired military personnel, he claimed that officers of equivalent rank in the armed forces received significantly higher gratuities and pensions upon retirement.

Odesanmi also criticised the welfare conditions of serving police officers, alleging that many officers purchased uniforms, fuel and operational materials with personal funds due to inadequate support.

“When I joined the force, officers were provided with uniforms, bedding and other essential items. Today, many officers buy uniforms and equipment with their own money,” he said.

On the ongoing debate over state policing, the retired officer expressed support for the initiative, stating that properly funded and supervised state police formations could improve security and officers’ welfare.

Reflecting on his career, Odesanmi said he regretted joining the Nigeria Police Force because of his experiences and the treatment of retired officers.

“Honestly, yes. Considering my experience and the treatment of retired officers, I would not encourage my children to join the police,” he said.

Despite his disappointment, he urged serving officers to remain professional and dedicated to their duties while calling on the government to improve the welfare of both active and retired personnel.

“I served faithfully, suffered a life-changing injury and yet I am struggling to survive after retirement,” he added.