The Kaduna State chapter of the Union of Retired Police Officers has announced plans to stage a nationwide protest on July 21, 2025, in response to unresolved pension issues affecting retired personnel enrolled under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
The protest, which the group has dubbed the “Mother of All Peaceful Protests,” is expected to take place simultaneously across all 36 states of the federation.
This resolution was made public by the union’s Chairman, Mannir M. Zaria, and Vice Chairman, Danlami Maigamo, following their monthly meeting held at the Police Officers’ Mess in Kaduna. According to them, the planned demonstration stems from the enduring hardships faced by retired police officers under the current pension arrangement.
The union has consistently raised alarm over what it describes as “systemic injustice” within the contributory pension system, alleging that it has plunged many of its members into severe economic hardship, financial embarrassment, and psychological distress.
They noted with concern the increasing rates of depression and mortality among retirees, attributing these tragic outcomes to inadequate pension benefits and delayed payments.
In a statement released after the meeting, the group declared: “We have no option but to embark on another peaceful protest tagged the ‘Mother of All Peaceful Protests’ on July 21, 2025. This protest is in pursuit of our demand to remove the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme, which has proven detrimental to our welfare.”
The union stressed that the protest would remain peaceful and lawful, asserting their identity as law-abiding citizens.
“We are committed to pressing our demands through non-violent means until our voices are heard. We will not relent until justice is served,” they added.
The union also revisited an earlier demonstration held between February 24 and March 3, 2025, by the Kaduna and Bauchi State chapters at the National Assembly. During that protest, petitions were submitted to five key officials, including the chairmen of relevant committees in both the Senate and House of Representatives, and the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Despite these efforts, the retirees expressed profound disappointment over what they termed the “deafening silence” from the National Assembly. In particular, they lamented the lack of feedback following a public hearing on the Police Pension Board Bill conducted on November 19, 2024.
The group reiterated its commitment to peaceful advocacy, distancing itself from any elements or factions that may be considering violent demonstrations.
“We dissociate ourselves from any group planning disruptive actions. Our struggle is anchored on the principles of justice, dignity, and respect for human rights,” the union affirmed.
To resolve the crisis permanently, the retired officers are demanding the establishment of an independent Police Pension Board. They argue that this would provide a more just, transparent, and sustainable pension framework specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of retired police personnel.