500 Police Retirees Died In Struggle For Benefits — REPON

The Retired Police Officers Association of Nigeria (REPON), Bauchi State chapter has claimed that no fewer than 500 members of the association died while struggling for their retirement benefits.

REPON also recalled that a proposal presented to the National Assembly for the passage of a bill for the establishment of a police pension board has been pending before the legislative chambers since 2012.

Secretary, Bauchi State chapter of NEPON, ASP John Iliya (retd), told journalists at a press conference in Bauchi on Wednesday, that, “we cannot continue to entertain these false promises any longer.”

He explained, “On May 21, 2024, a protest in pursuance of our case was carried out at the National Assembly gate where the Chairman Senate committee on Police Affairs, Senator Ahmed Abdulkadir Mallam Madori and his committee members promised that our demand will be met, on or before September. 2024”.

Iliya said up till 2nd October, 2014 there was no mention of the retired police officers nationwide, let alone the Bauchi State chapter.

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He explained that his members would be left with no option but to reoccupy the gate of the National Assembly if their demands were not met.

He highlighted other demand of the association to include the removal of the Nigeria Police Force from the contributing pension scheme (CPS), aside the establishment of a Police Pension Board, saying this would enable police retirees to manage themselves.

Iliya expressed dismay that despite meetings held with various committees of the House of Representatives during their last recess, none was held by the Committee on Police Affairs to address their concerns.

The police retirees’ association also wondered why the bill elongating the tenure of the Inspector General of Police was given preference and passed without a public hearing while its proposal remained unattended by the lawmakers

Iliya therefore called on the Committee on Police Affairs of the National Assembly to hasten the process and pass the bill as earlier promised to prevent the return of his members to the National Assembly Complex.