The Bauchi State chapter of the Retired Police Officers Association of Nigeria (REPON) has disclosed that over 500 members have passed on while fighting for their retirement benefits.
REPON also lamented the delay of a proposed bill, submitted to the National Assembly since 2012, seeking the establishment of a police pension board.
Speaking at a press conference held in Bauchi, the Secretary of the chapter, retired ASP John Iliya, expressed frustration, stating, “We can no longer tolerate these empty promises.”
Iliya recalled that on May 21, 2024, members of the association protested at the National Assembly gate.
According to him, during the protest, Senator Ahmed Abdulkadir Mallam Madori, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, and his colleagues assured that their demands would be addressed by September 2024.
However, as of October 2, 2024, there had been no mention of the retired officers’ plight, particularly for those in Bauchi State.
Iliya warned that if their demands remain unmet, the association would be left with no choice but to stage another protest at the National Assembly.
He disclosed that one of the key demands of the association is the removal of the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and the establishment of a Police Pension Board. This, Iliya argued, would allow police retirees to manage their pensions independently.
He expressed disappointment that despite various meetings with House committees during their last recess, the Committee on Police Affairs had failed to address their concerns.
The association also criticized lawmakers for quickly passing the bill extending the tenure of the Inspector General of Police without public hearings, while the police retirees’ proposal remains neglected.
Iliya, therefore, called on the National Assembly’s Committee on Police Affairs to expedite the passage of the bill to avoid further protests by his members.