By Milcah Tanimu
Sunday Ogwo Okpalle, a retired Two-Star Traffic Warden police officer, has been spotted in Niger, resorting to begging to sustain himself. Once standing tall with a robust build, Okpalle, now slightly bent due to age and altered circumstances, has taken to flagging down vehicles and seeking alms from commuters, explaining that he hasn’t eaten since the previous night.
Arewa encountered Okpalle as he appealed for assistance from passersby, revealing that he turned to begging when the rising cost of living and irregular pension payments left him unable to afford basic necessities. Despite receiving a pension, Okpalle shared that it doesn’t come regularly, compelling him to rely on begging to make ends meet.
The retired police officer, who served for 35 years, expressed his nostalgic view of the past when his job was financially rewarding. He recalled earning amounts like N3000 or N4000 during his active service but lamented that he no longer sees such amounts. Okpalle retired in 2018, and despite facing delays in receiving his entitlements, he eventually received a gratuity of N6 million, which he used to settle debts and address some personal needs.
Okpalle’s pension, initially at N30,000 and recently increased to N31,000, falls short of meeting his financial needs. He expressed frustration at attempting to find alternative sources of income, given his age and the challenges he faces. Despite working in various police stations during his service, Okpalle finds himself struggling to make ends meet, grappling with the rising cost of living and inadequate financial support.
The story sheds light on the struggles faced by some retired public servants in Nigeria, emphasizing the need for timely and sufficient pension payments to ensure their well-being in retirement.
