By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The Union of Retired Police Officers, Kaduna State Chapter, has issued an ultimatum to the National Assembly, demanding the removal of its members from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) by the end of January next year. If their demand is not met, the retirees threaten to occupy the National Assembly.
The union intends to bring mattresses, mats, cooking utensils, and other personal items to the National Assembly, where they will remain until their demands are addressed.
The Chairman, CSP Mannir M. Lawal Zaria (Rtd), and the Secretary, ASP Danladi Maigamo (Rtd), issued the statement in a press release distributed to news outlets in Kaduna.
The union stated, “Our patience has run out. If the Nigeria Police are not removed from the CPS by the end of January 2025, we will have no choice but to occupy the National Assembly.”
“This time, it’s not going to be easy. We will carry our mattresses, mats, cooking utensils, and all our domestic needs to the National Assembly. We will remain there until we are exited from the CPS. We will no longer accept any promises, as we have endured many unfulfilled ones. We are determined to fight for our rights and dignity.”
The union also criticized the House Committee on Police Pension for holding public hearings and then failing to submit its report as promised. “The committee was given one week to submit its findings, but unfortunately, we have heard nothing about the report,” the statement added.
The union expressed concern over the delay, which has left police retirees under the CPS in dire poverty, contributing to numerous deaths.
The retirees also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and stop the “enslavement” of their members under the Contributory Pension Scheme. “For the sake of justice and equality, we call on President Tinubu to remove us from the CPS and ensure the payment of our outstanding allowances and palliatives.”
The union held its monthly meeting on December 18, 2024, during which they discussed pressing issues, including the public hearings on the establishment of the Nigeria Police Pension Board. The retirees also expressed dissatisfaction with the Federal Government’s neglect of retired police officers under the CPS, noting that while the President has responded to pension concerns from other security agencies, police retirees have been denied exit, unpaid allowances, and palliative support.
The union raised questions about the unfair treatment of police retirees, especially considering that top-ranking officials, including the Inspector General of Police, the Minister for Police Affairs, and the National Security Adviser (a retired police officer), are involved in the matter.
The union also addressed claims circulated by PENCOM, NPF Pension, the Central Bank, and the National Union of Pensioners (NUP), which suggested that the Federal Government would need to spend N3 trillion to settle police pensions if they exit the CPS.
The union rejected this claim, stating that the total strength of the Nigeria Police is approximately 350,000, and not all will retire simultaneously. They further pointed out that PENCOM holds assets worth around N21 trillion, meaning that even if N3 trillion is used to settle police pension exit, PENCOM would still have a balance of about N18 trillion.
