By Retired Police Officers Protest in Abuja
Demand exit from contributory pension scheme
Summary
- Retired officers demand exit from contributory pension scheme and creation of a dedicated Police Pension Board
- Protest sparked by viral video of a retiree who received only ₦3 million after 35 years of service
- Inspector-General acknowledges grievances but says exit from scheme requires legislative action
Abuja, Nigeria — Hundreds of retired police officers took to the streets of Abuja on 21 July 2025, braving heavy rain to protest what they described as exploitative and discriminatory pension arrangements under Nigeria’s Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
The demonstration, organised by the Nigerian Union of Retired Police Officers, began at the National Assembly complex and moved to the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters. Protesters, many of them elderly, carried placards with messages like “35 Years of Service, 3 Million Naira Retirement? Shame!”, and “Remove Police from CPS!”, chanting solidarity songs and decrying meagre payouts after decades of service.
The protest was ignited by a viral video of a retired Superintendent of Police who revealed he received only ₦3 million after 35 years in the force. This reignited long-standing calls for police personnel to be removed from the CPS, which was introduced in 2004, and reinstated under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), believed by many retirees to offer more security.
Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore led the march, supported by fellow activists Deji Adeyanju and Dan Bello Galadanchi. Sowore slammed the CPS as a “scam” that favours high-ranking officers while leaving retirees in poverty, calling for a minimum monthly salary of ₦500,000 for serving officers.
Despite warnings from the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) to shelve the protest in favour of dialogue, retirees went ahead, citing years of neglect. Although there were reports of attempts by some serving officers to disrupt the protest, security personnel were deployed to ensure it remained peaceful.
At the Force Headquarters, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun received the protesters and acknowledged their plight. However, he explained that removing the Nigeria Police from the CPS would require legislative and administrative processes beyond his remit. He assured the retirees that discussions were ongoing with the National Pension Commission (PenCom) and the Ministry of Police Affairs to find sustainable solutions.
The police leadership expressed sympathy with the protesters’ demands and revealed plans to leverage internally generated revenue and private partnerships to improve pension packages.
Similar protests also erupted in states like Edo and Taraba, where retired officers demanded urgent presidential action. The nationwide demonstrations have brought renewed focus to issues of police welfare, with observers warning that unresolved pension challenges could fuel corruption, low morale, and inefficiency in the force.
