“Enough Of Deceit, Exit Us From Contributory Pension Scheme,” Rtd Police Officers

By Ayodele Oni

Kaduna State Chapter of the Union of Retired Police Officers, has kicked against the Contributory Pension Scheme, (CPS) which members say is enslaving them.

The Chairman of the State Chapter, CSP Mannir Lawal Zaria, and the Secretary, ASP Danladi Maigamo, who made the remark in a press release, appealed to President Bola Tinubu to save their members from the slavery.

The Union said for the sake of justice and equity, President Tinubu should come to the aid of the police retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme by removing them and also pay them their pending unpaid allowances and palliatives.

It also issued a warning to the National Assembly “as our patience is already exhausted, if by the end of January 2025, the Nigeria Police are not removed from CPS, we would have no alternative than to occupy the National Assembly.

“But this time is not going to be easy, because we would carry our mattresses, mats, cooking utensils, as well as all our domestic needs to the National Assembly.

“We would remain there until we are exited out of CPS. This time around, no more acceptance of any promise due to the fact that we have accepted many unfulfilled promises. We are determined to fight for our rights and dignity.”

The union held its monthly meeting on December 18, 2024. The meeting discussed critical issues, including the public hearings on the establishment of the Nigeria Police Pension Board.

“The committee that conducted the public hearings was given one week to submit it’s report, but unfortunately, nothing has been heard about the report.

“The union is concerned about the delay, which has left police retirees under the CPS in abject poverty, leading to rampant deaths.

“The union also discussed the Federal Government’s abandonment of retired police officers under the CPS. Despite the President’s prompt response to other security agencies’ pension concerns, police retirees under the CPS have been denied exit, payment of unpaid allowances, and palliatives.

“Why are police retirees are being treated unfairly, despite having top-ranking officials, including the Inspector General of Police, Minister for Police Affairs, and National Security Adviser, who is a retired police officer.”

The union also addressed the propaganda spread by PENCOM, NPF Pension, Central Bank, and the National Union of Pensioners (NUP), claiming that “the Federal Government would spend N3 trillion to settle police pension if they exit the CPS”.

The union debunked the claim, stating that the overall strength of the Nigeria Police is about 350,000, and not all would retire at the same time.

“PENCOM confirmed having money and assets worth about twenty-one trillion naira. Therefore, out of that, if the sum of three trillion is removed to settle the police exit, PENCOM would still have a balance of about eighteen trillion naira”.