The Union of Retired Police Officers under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) has announced plans to stage a peaceful protest at the National Assembly on Monday to press home demands for better pension benefits.

In a statement on Thursday, the chairman of the Kaduna State chapter, CSP Mannir Lawal Zaria (rtd.), said the move was necessitated by the unbearable living conditions facing members.

Zaria decried what he described as “widespread poverty, lack of access to healthcare, inability to afford basic feeding, children being withdrawn from schools, and increasing deaths among retired personnel.”

According to him, delegates from the Kaduna chapter would join colleagues from the 35 other states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to storm the National Assembly in Abuja.

The resolution, he noted, followed a virtual meeting of the union on Monday, September 22, 2025, where members revisited their long-standing demand for the exit of the Nigeria Police Force from the CPS.

“For more than 15 years, we have consistently petitioned the government, staged protests, and submitted memoranda to lawmakers,” Zaria said.

He recalled that the agitation had led to three public hearings, during which lawmakers were shown evidence comparing the meagre pensions received by retired police officers under the CPS with the more robust packages enjoyed by their counterparts in the military and the Department of State Services (DSS).

“Despite lawmakers being fully aware of these economic hardships, no meaningful improvements have been made,” he lamented.

Court Declines IGP’s Request For Arrest Warrants

Meanwhile, Justice Halilu Yusuf of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has rejected a request by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to issue arrest warrants against five retired senior police officers accused of falsifying their age records to unlawfully extend their service.

The defendants include AIG Idowu Owohunwa (rtd.), CP Benneth Igweh (rtd.), CP Ukachi Peter Opara (rtd.), DCP Obo Ukam Obo (rtd.) and ACP Simon A. Lough, SAN (rtd.). They face a 14-count charge bordering on forgery and age falsification.

At Thursday’s hearing, police lawyer Ezekiel Rimamasonte expressed displeasure over their absence despite allegedly being served with charges, and prayed the court to issue arrest warrants.

But defence counsel, Terkaa Aondo (SAN), countered that the IGP had failed to properly serve the defendants as required by law, insisting that criminal charges demanded personal service.

After listening to both parties, Justice Yusuf declined the request, stressing that the police must ensure the defendants were properly brought before the court before seeking warrants.

The case was adjourned to November 17, 2025 for arraignment.