Police Retirees Protest Pension Scheme in Abuja

Retired personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and their families staged a protest in Abuja, voicing strong opposition to the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). The demonstrators gathered at a gate of the Presidential Villa under the banner of the Police Retired Officers Forum of Nigeria. This police pension protest reflects growing concern over the welfare of former officers.

The group described the pension system as “fraudulent, illegal, inhumane, and obnoxious,” and called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sign the Police Exit Bill into law. According to the retirees, the bill, passed by the National Assembly on 4 December 2025 and forwarded to the Presidency on 16 March 2026, would remove police personnel from the scheme.

Leading the protest, CSP Raphael Irowainu (retd.) explained that their goal was clear.

“Our major aim here is to prevail on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sign our bill—the bill exiting the police from the Contributory Pension Scheme—passed by the National Assembly on 4th December 2025 and transmitted to him on 16th March, 2026, into law, nothing more than that,” he said.

He also pointed out that other security agencies have already exited the scheme, leaving police officers behind. The retirees argued that the CPS has harmed their wellbeing, even describing it as a

“slavery and untimely death-inducing pension scheme.”

This police pension protest is not an isolated event. In July 2025, retired officers held a similar demonstration at the National Assembly. Many elderly participants also protested at the Force Headquarters, highlighting poor pension conditions.

The police pension protest shows rising dissatisfaction among retired officers, especially as they compare their situation with other security agencies that now enjoy different pension arrangements. Their demand remains focused on fairness and improved welfare.

What do you think should be done to address the concerns of retired police officers?