Retired police officers and their families on Monday blocked an entrance to the Presidential Villa in Abuja, protesting what they described as years of hardship under the Contributory Pension Scheme and demanding immediate action from President Bola Tinubu.

The protesters, under the Police Retired Officers Forum of Nigeria, gathered near Aso Rock, calling for the Nigeria Police Force to be removed from the scheme.

Why they are protesting

The retirees insisted that the Contributory Pension Scheme is “fraudulent, illegal, inhumane and obnoxious,” arguing that it has left many former officers struggling to survive after decades of service.

Placards at the protest carried messages such as “End CPS” and “If military, DSS were removed from PENCOM, why not police?”

Many also chanted, “Police dey work, PenCom dey chop.”

Call for presidential action

The group urged Tinubu to sign the Police Exit Bill passed by the National Assembly on December 4, 2025, and forwarded to the Presidency in March 2026.

According to them, the bill would remove police personnel from the pension scheme they claim has worsened their living conditions.

They described the scheme as one that leads to “untimely death” and hardship among retired officers.

Voices from the protest

Speaking during the protest, a retired ASP, Nurudeen Dahiru, said the demonstration was about survival and dignity.

“We are not begging anybody. We have come to fight for our rights. We have served for 35 years,” he said.

He added that many retirees can no longer meet basic needs, including feeding and supporting their families.

Another protester questioned the level of pension payments, saying they remain inadequate even decades after retirement.

Background

The Contributory Pension Scheme has long been a subject of debate, with security agencies like the military and DSS previously exiting the system.

Retired police officers argue that they deserve similar treatment, given the nature of their service.

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