Kaduna Retired Police Officers Offer Prayers, Seek Tinubu’s Assent to Harmonised Police Exit Bill

Kaduna Retired Police Officers Offer Prayers, Seek Tinubu’s Assent to Harmonised Police Exit Bill By Zainab Tanimu, Kaduna Northwest Nigeria  The Kaduna State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Retired Police Officers has held a special prayer session at the Police Officers’ Mess in Kaduna to thank God and the National Assembly for the passage of the Harmonised Police Exit Bill. The proposed legislation seeks to exempt retired police officers from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and reintegrate them into the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), a move the union believes will significantly improve the welfare of retirees. Speaking at the event, the chapter’s chairman, Retired Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Mannir M. Lawal, described the bill’s passage as a long-overdue breakthrough and an answer to years of prayers.  He praised the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives for their resolve in addressing the persistent challenges confronting retired police officers. The union also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to give swift assent to the bill, expressing confidence in his support based on his record of promoting police welfare during his time as Governor of Lagos State. According to Retired CSP Lawal, the President has consistently demonstrated concern for the well-being of police personnel and is expected to act favourably once the bill is presented to him. Highlighting the hardship endured by retirees under the CPS, the union noted that many former officers face severe financial difficulties, including inability to provide food for their families, access medical care, or meet educational expenses.  These challenges, compounded by the rising cost of living, have reportedly led to neglect, suffering and avoidable deaths among retirees. The union maintained that the Defined Benefit Scheme remains a more dependable pension framework for police retirees. Retired CSP Lawal explained that past challenges associated with the DBS were largely due to poor management rather than structural flaws, adding that a well-managed DBS guarantees full gratuity based on last salary and a stable monthly pension. Reiterating their appeal, the union stressed that the bill’s enactment would represent a major step towards resolving the long-standing welfare concerns of retired police officers nationwide, urging the President to grant urgent assent to bring lasting relief to thousands of affected retirees.