Over 500 retired police officers in Nigeria have tragically died while waiting to receive their retirement benefits, according to the Bauchi State chapter of the Retired Police Officers Association of Nigeria (REPON). The association revealed the devastating toll of delay and neglect at a press conference held in Bauchi on October 2, 2024.
The retirees have been fighting for over a decade for the establishment of a police pension board, a battle that has yet to yield results despite countless promises from government officials. As frustration grows, the association has warned of more protests if their demands continue to be ignored.
“We Can No Longer Tolerate These Empty Promises”
At the heart of the grievances is the long-standing delay in addressing the demands of retired police officers for a better pension system. Secretary of the Bauchi State chapter, retired ASP John Iliya, voiced the growing anger of his members.
“We can no longer tolerate these empty promises,” Iliya said during the press conference. He explained that the retirees have been left in a state of limbo, unsure when they will finally receive the benefits they are owed after serving the country.
Protest at National Assembly Yields No Results
Iliya recalled how, on May 21, 2024, members of REPON had staged a protest at the gates of the National Assembly in Abuja. During the protest, Senator Ahmed Abdulkadir Mallam Madori, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, had met with the group and promised that their demands would be addressed by September 2024.
“Senator Madori and other members of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs assured us that the bill to establish a police pension board would be passed by September,” Iliya recounted. “But as of today, October 2, 2024, there has been no word on our issue.”
The lack of progress has left the retirees feeling betrayed and ignored. Iliya warned that if the government continues to delay, the association will have no choice but to return to the National Assembly for another round of protests.
Call for the Creation of a Police Pension Board
The central demand of the association is the removal of the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), which currently governs their pensions. Under the CPS, police retirees argue that they are not receiving fair benefits for the years of service they gave to the nation.
Instead, REPON is advocating for the creation of a Police Pension Board, which they believe would allow the management of pensions to be tailored to the specific needs of police officers. Iliya emphasized that police officers face unique risks and challenges in their careers and deserve a pension system that reflects these realities.
“The CPS does not address our needs as retired police officers,” Iliya said. “We are demanding a Police Pension Board that will allow us to manage our pensions independently and ensure we are treated with the respect we deserve.”
A Decade-Long Fight for Change
The fight for a dedicated police pension system began over a decade ago. In 2012, a bill was introduced to the National Assembly that called for the establishment of a Police Pension Board. However, more than ten years later, that bill remains in legislative limbo.
The repeated delays have led to frustration, anger, and, tragically, the deaths of many retired officers who died without ever receiving the benefits they fought for. According to REPON, over 500 retirees have died while waiting for their pensions to be sorted out.
Lawmakers Criticized for Prioritizing Other Bills
Iliya and other members of REPON have also expressed disappointment with how quickly lawmakers have passed other police-related bills, particularly one extending the tenure of the Inspector General of Police, without even holding public hearings. This fast-tracking stands in stark contrast to the slow progress of the police pension bill.
“It is disappointing that a bill extending the tenure of the Inspector General of Police was passed quickly, but our bill has been ignored for over ten years,” Iliya lamented. “It seems like our welfare as retirees is not a priority for the lawmakers.”
He noted that despite various meetings with the Senate Committee on Police Affairs and other House committees during their last recess, there has been no movement on the bill to create the pension board.
Desperation and Growing Protests
The situation has left many police retirees in a state of desperation. Without their rightful pensions, many struggle to meet basic needs like healthcare, housing, and daily expenses. This has led to widespread suffering and, in some cases, premature deaths among the retirees.
The ongoing crisis facing retired police officers highlights broader issues within Nigeria’s pension system. The Contributory Pension Scheme, introduced in 2004, was intended to streamline and improve pension management for both public and private sector workers.
However, many have criticized the scheme for failing to adequately address the needs of certain sectors, particularly high-risk professions like policing. While the CPS has brought improvements for some, retired police officers argue that it leaves them without enough support after decades of dangerous and difficult service.
A Call for Urgent Action
As REPON continues to push for the establishment of a Police Pension Board, the association is calling on both lawmakers and the government to take urgent action. The longer the delay, the more lives are affected, and the more retirees die without receiving their benefits.
“We have waited long enough,” Iliya said. “Our colleagues are dying, and we cannot sit by and let this continue. The government must act now.”
