By Paul Joseph
Retired officers of the Nigeria Police Force on Monday staged a protest in Abuja, blocking one of the entrance gates to the Presidential Villa as they called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sign the long-awaited Police Exit Bill into law.
The demonstration, organised under the banner of the Police Retired Officers Forum of Nigeria, saw dozens of former officers carrying placards with inscriptions such as “End CPS” and “If military DSS were removed from PENCOM, why not police?”
At the heart of their demands is the removal of police personnel from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), which they described as unjust, exploitative, and inadequate for retired officers.
The retirees urged the president to assent to the bill passed by the National Assembly on December 4, 2025, and forwarded to the Presidency on March 16, 2026. They argued that the legislation would exempt police officers from the CPS and provide a more sustainable pension framework.
Speaking during the protest on Monday, the National Coordinator of the forum, Raphael Irowainu, said the group’s primary objective was to secure presidential approval for the bill.
According to him, other security agencies such as the military and intelligence services have already been excluded from the CPS, leaving police retirees at a disadvantage despite decades of service.
Several protesters expressed frustration over their living conditions, citing poor pension payouts and growing hardship. A retired Assistant Superintendent of Police, Nurudeen Dahiru, said the protest was not about confrontation but a desperate appeal for justice.
“We have served this country for over 35 years, yet many of us cannot meet basic needs,” he said, lamenting that retirees struggle to care for their families and maintain a decent standard of living.
Other retirees echoed similar concerns, describing the pension scheme as inadequate and calling for immediate reforms that would allow them to access their full entitlements.
The protest marks the latest in a series of demonstrations by retired police personnel across the country, as they continue to press for improved welfare and urgent pension reforms.
Observers say the development highlights growing discontent among retired security personnel and adds pressure on the Federal Government to address long-standing concerns within the nation’s pension system.
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