Stories from Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
The Kaduna State Chapter of Retired Police Officers have decried that seven of their members were buried within one week, due to severe poverty attributed to their Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
Chairman of the Retired officers in the state, CSP Mannir Lawal Zaria (rtd), stated this in a press release issued to journalists shortly after their monthly general meeting held at the Police Officers’ Mess, in Kaduna.
The retirees police officers are urging the passage of two bills currently pending at the National Assembly.
These bills, according to him, seek to exclude the Nigeria Police from the Contributory Pension Scheme CPS and also establish the Nigeria Police Pension Board.
CSP Zaria however, announced that the union plans to stage a peaceful protest at the National Assembly in Abuja, next Tuesday.
According to him, the protest is intended to press for their demand for their removal from the Contributory Pension Scheme and their reinstatement under the Defined Benefit Scheme.
“During the meeting, we received reports of alarming rate of deaths among police retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme. Within one week, seven retirees were buried due to extreme poverty caused by the scheme,” he lamented.
He lamented the harsh realities faced by retired officers, saying, “Our children are out of school, from nursery to tertiary institutions. Our members cant no longer afford medical expenses, let alone provide for their families”
“As a result, they have lost all respect from their families.”
In a related development, the retirees also accused the Nigeria Police of allegedly planning to introduce a new pension scheme called the “100 and 80% Pension Scheme.”
According to the retirees, the scheme would grant police officers from the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police to Commissioners of Police 100% of their salaries as pension, while officers from Chief Superintendent of Police to Constable would receive 80% of their salaries.
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