The Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro, said on Thursday that about N2 billion meant for the payment of pensions to retired police officers was stuck in the Ministry of Finance.
Mr. Okiro made this known at the Annual General Meeting of the Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria (ARPON) in Abuja.
Represented by Ogbonna Onovo, the Deputy Inspector General in charge of `A' Department (Administration and Finance), the police chief said that the money was held at the Ministry of Finance instead of being released for the payment of the pensions.
``A number of pensioners have complained of not getting their entitlements for over three months, while others said that their documents have not been processed for payment for over five years.
``The N2 billion for the payment of pensioners has been traced to the Finance Ministry," he said.
Speaking on the challenges of the force, Mr. Okiro said they were caused by inadequate funding, but disclosed that the ongoing police reform would ensure adequate funding for the police.
Reacting, the president of the pensioners' group, Mohammad Danmadami, was represented by the association's first Vice-Chairman, Fidelis Oyakhilome, said it was actively contributing to the manpower development of serving police officers.