…As CSP Lawal Zaria elected new National Coordinator.
by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The National Union of retired Police Officers, under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), has elected a new National Coordinator, retired Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Mannir M. Lawal Zaria, following the voluntary resignation of the former, retired Superintendent of Police (SP), Chris Effiong.
Lawal Zaria has also promised to lead a “do-or-die” peaceful protest to the Villa on 20th April, 2026, if the exit bill is not signed by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
The decisions were reached during an emergency virtual meeting held on April 3, 2026, where retired Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Mannir M. Lawal Zaria, who had served as Chairman of the Kaduna State chapter, emerged as the new National Coordinator through an election conducted by members.
This was contained in a statement jointly signed by the new National Coordinator and the Chairman, Kaduna State Chapter, retired CSP Mannir M. Lawal Zaria, and the National Legal Adviser, retired DSP Barrister Ofem Mbang, and retired ASP Elnathan Jared, National Secretary, and distributed to journalists in Kaduna, Sunday.
In his acceptance remarks, new national coordinator, retired CSP Lawal Zaria, commended his predecessor for his nine years of dedicated service to the union and pledged to build on the achievements recorded during his tenure.
The new National Coordinator, however, expressed concern over the continued delay in addressing the welfare of retired police officers under the CPS.
He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently sign the Nigeria Police Exit Bill, noting that its passage would help alleviate the hardship faced by retirees.
He warned that failure to act could lead to a peaceful protest scheduled to take place at the Presidential Villa on April 20, 2026.
Lawal Zaria said he is going to “lead a do-or-die peaceful protest to the Villa on 20th April 2026, if the exit bill is not signed by the President, which means that, you either join the peaceful protest, if you are a police retiree under the CPS, or die at home as a result of PenCom-induced poverty.”
“The protest would be extended to various Pension Fund Administrators’ offices across the country during the ‘do-or-die’ peaceful protest on 20/04/26, if they are not paid,” he warned.
Retired CSP Lawal Zaria also called on Pension Fund Administrators to immediately release all outstanding pension arrears owed to retired police officers.
He decried the situation where retirees were subjected to multiple verification processes, including the submission of National Identification Numbers (NIN), Bank Verification Numbers (BVN), bank statements, next-of-kin certificates, and legal documentation; yet, remained unpaid.
According to him, the continued delay in settling these arrears is unacceptable, stressing that, retirees deserve timely access to their entitlements after years of service to the nation.
He further urged all affected members to remain united, while pursuing their demands through lawful means, emphasizing that the planned protest would remain peaceful.