ABUJA — In an unprecedented show of unity and desperation, retired police officers across Nigeria stormed the streets on Monday, braving heavy rains and harsh conditions to protest what they describe as “decades of neglect, humiliation, and economic slavery” under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
From Abuja to Benin City, Jos to Calabar, Ilorin to Jalingo, the voices of the nation’s forgotten heroes echoed with one powerful demand: “Remove the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme!”
In Abuja, elderly men who had once stood tall in defence of law and order, now drenched by torrential rain, stood in defiance at the National Assembly gate. Many leaned on walking sticks, others clutching faded placards, yet all singing solidarity songs with unbroken spirits. They were later joined by human rights activist and convener of the #RevolutionNow Movement, Omoyele Sowore, who lent his voice to their call for justice.
Their core demand? An end to the CPS, which they say has left them destitute after years of selfless service. According to them, it is not just a matter of policy—it is a matter of survival.
> “I served for 35 years and I now receive N20,000 monthly. How do I feed my family, buy medication, or live with dignity?” lamented a retired officer, brandishing his pension slip in frustration.
Another officer, a former Assistant Superintendent of Police, disclosed that he receives N22,000 monthly. “I wore this uniform with pride, risked my life for this country. Is this my reward?” he asked, visibly shaken.
Retired Chief Superintendent of Police Manir Lawal, 67, was blunt in his message:
> “This scheme is exploitative and unjust. We served this country loyally, many of us into our 60s and 70s. We’re not begging. We’re demanding what is rightfully ours!”
The anguish wasn’t limited to the capital. In Plateau State, over 300 retired officers clad in black—the colour of mourning—gathered at the Police Officers’ Mess in Jos, calling the CPS a “failed and deadly scheme.” Similar demonstrations erupted in Kwara, Edo, Taraba, and Cross River, where retirees wielded banners that read:
“We Demand Full Gratuity Now!”
“End Police Slavery!”
“Dignity for Those in Uniform!”
“CPS is a Death Sentence!”
In Ilorin, the protesting retirees didn’t just demand their exit from the scheme—they called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to immediately address the N758 billion pension shortfall owed to security agencies, a staggering backlog that should have been paid since June 2025.
In Jalingo, retired officers spoke in pain, some holding photos of colleagues who died from financial hardship. “We are not asking for luxury; we are asking to live,” said one protester, tears rolling down his cheeks.
Meanwhile, in Calabar, retired personnel defied heavy downpours to march through the streets, urging the Federal Government to exempt the police from what they termed a “malicious and deadly pension arrangement.”
Reacting swiftly, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun addressed the retirees at the Force Headquarters, expressing empathy and acknowledging the harsh realities of their plight.
> “We feel your pain. We are also going to retire. I am not against the exit of the Nigeria Police from the CPS. If that is the solution, I support it wholeheartedly,” he assured.
He revealed that he had just met with National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and the welfare of retired officers was top on their agenda. While acknowledging that the removal of the police from the CPS has faced challenges since 2014, Egbetokun stressed that “exiting the scheme is not within the power of the IGP alone.”
He further warned against political exploitation of the retirees’ plight, urging them to be wary of individuals “pretending to be on your side” but who may have hidden agendas.
> “Even within the CPS, reforms are possible. We are exploring alternative paths to ensure retired officers enjoy the peace they deserve after decades of sacrifice,” the IGP said.
Despite these assurances, many retirees say talk is no longer enough.
> “We will not leave the streets until something concrete is done. Enough is enough,” said ASP Joshua Abdul, a retiree from Bauchi, who revealed he went unpaid for nine months and now receives N14,000 after decades of service.
As the sun set on Monday’s protests, the drenched uniforms of the nation’s protectors became a haunting metaphor: honour worn thin by years of abandonment.
The nation now watches closely to see if the government will finally rise to honour those who once rose for its peace and safety. Until then, the rain-soaked cries of these veterans continue to thunder across Nigeria’s skies, refusing to be ignored.
PIONEER NEWS 