By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

The National Union of Police Retirees, Kaduna State Branch has  stated that it would organise the mother of all protests  by occupying the National Assembly until President Bola Tinubu signs the Pension Exit Bill.

According to the retirees, they are earnestly waiting for “the bill to exit the Nigeria Police from Contributory Pension Scheme and the bill for the establishment of the Nigeria Police Pension Board, as the police retirees are patiently waiting for, and  there is the tendency that the promise may not be fulfilled  as September is winding up.”

This was  contained in a statement signed by the Chairman of the Police Retirees Kaduna State Chapter, CSP Mannir Lawal Zaria (Rtd) and the Vice Chairman,ASP Danlami Maigamo (Rtd),issued to journalists in Kaduna on  Thursday.

They lamented that the police retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme were dying  due to poverty and hunger.

“The union is also pleading that, as the death toll is on the increase among the police retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme and the price of commodity of any type is also on the increase.”

“The Federal Government should come to the aid of the police retirees under the contributory Pension Scheme before they all perish, by immediately paying the following allowances to the police retirees under the  contributory Pension Scheme”.

” The 2.5 percent differential, the Federal Government Palliative and three consecutive pension increase by the Federal Government as well as the minimum wage increase.”

“During the Police Retirees Kaduna State Branch monthly meeting held last Wednesday at Police Officers Mess Kaduna, members became shocked and worried, as there is a sign of unfulfillment of a promise that begin to manifest it self because it can be recalled that, on the 22/09/24, the National Union of the Police Retirees under the contributory Pension Scheme carried out a nationwide peaceful protest to the National Assembly Abuja.”

“During the protest, the Chairman Senate Committee for Police Affairs, Senator Ahmed Abdulkadir Malamadori, addressed  some of the retirees in his office, where he promised the retirees that, before  September 24, they would be exited from the Contributory Pension Scheme to the Define Benefit Scheme (DBS). that the two Police Bills would be Harmonized.”

“Sequel to this sign of un fulfilment, the blood pressure of many concerned  police retirees has risen above maximum.”

The Kaduna Branch has therefore, unanimously agreed that if by the end of this September, the Nigeria Police is not exempted from contributory Pension Scheme, they would protest.