How More Than 500 Retired Police Officers Lost Their Lives Battling For Their Benefits - REPON

The Bauchi State chapter of the Retired Police Officers Association of Nigeria (REPON) has reported that more than 500 members have died while advocating for their retirement benefits.

REPON has also expressed concern regarding the prolonged delay of a proposed bill, which has been pending in the National Assembly since 2012, aimed at establishing a police pension board. During a press conference in Bauchi, the chapter's Secretary, retired ASP John Iliya, voiced his frustration, stating, “We can no longer tolerate these empty promises.” Iliya recounted that on May 21, 2024, association members staged a protest at the National Assembly gate. He noted that during this protest, Senator Ahmed Abdulkadir Mallam Madori, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, along with his colleagues, assured the protesters that their demands would be addressed by September 2024. However, as of October 2, 2024, there has been no acknowledgment of the challenges faced by retired officers, particularly those from Bauchi State. Iliya cautioned that if their demands continue to be ignored, the association would have no alternative but to organize another protest at the National Assembly. He highlighted that a primary demand 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. Iliya contended that this change would enable police retirees to manage their pensions autonomously. He expressed disappointment that, despite multiple meetings with House committees during their recent recess, the Committee on Police Affairs has not addressed their issues. The association also criticized lawmakers for swiftly passing a bill to extend the tenure of the Inspector General of Police without public hearings, while the proposal concerning police retirees remains overlooked. Iliya, therefore, urged the National Assembly’s Committee on Police Affairs to prioritize the passage of the bill to prevent further protests from his members.