President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the payment of pensions for retired police personnel who were granted presidential pardon in 2000 after serving in the defunct Biafra Police during the Nigerian Civil War.

A statement released on Wednesday by the office of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) confirmed the approval of the payment of pensions to the officers who have not received anything after they were pardoned by then President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The statement also revealed that a total of 162 officers will be on the payroll while 57 next- of- kins who have also not been paid their relatives’ death benefits will be paid in the first batch which will commence in Enugu on Friday.

The statement read: “The general public would recall that Nigeria witnessed an ugly civil war between July, 1967 and January, 1970 and as a result of that unfortunate period in our history, some members of the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police and paramilitary officers who took part with the secessionists were dismissed from the service.

“The dismissal of these officers was commuted to retirement through a Presidential amnesty granted on 29th May, 2000 by the administration of then President, Olusegun Obasanjo.

“A verification exercise was conducted for the pardoned officers by the defunct Police Pension Office and recently PTAD on one hand, and the Police Service Commission on the other. Despite the presidential pardon and verification of these officers, many of them remained unpaid years after the pardon.

“However the present administration under the leadership of President, C-in-C of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari has graciously given approval for the payment of pension entitlements to these officers and their next of kin.

“PTAD is commencing the payment of pension benefits to the retired war affected police officers on Friday, 20th October in Enugu.

“One hundred and sixty-two officers would be payrolled and 57 next of kin who have also not been paid their death benefits will be paid in the first batch.”