Retired police officers under the Police Retired Officers Forum of Nigeria (PROF), alongside members of their families, staged a protest in Abuja on Monday, calling for the removal of the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
The protesters gathered near one of the gates leading to the Presidential Villa, blocking access as they appealed to President Bola Tinubu to sign the Police Exit Bill recently passed by the National Assembly.
The retired officers described the current pension arrangement as unfair, burdensome, and inadequate for men and women who dedicated their lives to protecting the country.
Demand for Presidential Action
Leading the protest was Raphael Irowainu, a retired Chief Superintendent of Police, who said the group’s primary mission was to secure presidential assent to the bill.
According to him, the legislation seeking to remove police personnel from the CPS was passed by the National Assembly on December 4, 2025, and forwarded to the Presidency on March 16, 2026.
“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 — into law,” he said.
He noted that the retirees were not asking for special treatment, but for fairness and parity with other security agencies.
Call for Equal Treatment
The protesters argued that several security institutions have already been removed from the Contributory Pension Scheme, while police personnel remain under the arrangement.
They cited agencies such as:
The Armed Forces
The Department of State Services (DSS)
The Nigerian Air Force
The Nigerian Navy
The National Intelligence Agency (NIA)
According to the retirees, it is unjust that police officers, who play a frontline role in internal security, continue to remain under a system others have exited.
“The soldiers have been exited, the SSS has been exited, the Air Force has been exited, the Navy has been exited, the NIA has been exited. The police are still trapped in this scheme,” Irowainu said.
Why Retirees Oppose the Scheme
The Contributory Pension Scheme was introduced as part of pension reforms aimed at creating a sustainable retirement funding system through joint contributions by workers and employers.
However, retired police officers insist the scheme has failed to meet their needs.
Their complaints include delayed access to benefits, low monthly pension payments, bureaucratic bottlenecks, and the inability of the scheme to reflect the risks and sacrifices associated with police service.
Many of the retirees said officers who spent decades protecting lives and property now struggle to survive after retirement.
Some also claimed colleagues had died while waiting for pension payments or while facing financial hardship.
A Longstanding Grievance
Monday’s protest is the latest in a series of demonstrations by retired police personnel over the issue.
Last year, many of them protested for weeks at the entrance of the National Assembly complex in Abuja, demanding legislative action to remove the police from the pension scheme.
The protests drew national attention and reignited debate over the welfare of retired security personnel.
National Assembly Response
Following sustained pressure, the House of Representatives passed a bill seeking to exempt the Nigeria Police Force from the CPS. The Senate later aligned with the proposal, leading to the passage of the Police Exit Bill.
During the earlier protests, Senate President Godswill Akpabio assured retirees that lawmakers would support their demand.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Jackson Udom, Akpabio reportedly described the policy as one that had imposed hardship on police officers who risk their lives to secure the nation.
He also expressed confidence that President Tinubu would listen to the retirees and sign the legislation into law.
What the Bill Could Change
If signed, the Police Exit Bill would remove police personnel from the Contributory Pension Scheme and place them under a different pension structure.
Retirees believe this would lead to faster payment of benefits, improved pension packages, and greater financial security for officers after service.
Supporters also argue that better retirement welfare could boost morale among serving officers and improve commitment within the force.
Beyond Pensions
The protest has also revived broader conversations about police welfare in Nigeria.
Analysts say reforming the police should go beyond operational equipment and security funding to include salaries, housing, insurance, healthcare, and retirement benefits.
Many believe that officers who feel secure during and after service are more likely to perform effectively and professionally.
Pressure Now on the Presidency
With the National Assembly having completed its legislative role, attention has now shifted to the Presidency.
For the retired officers who stood for hours under the Abuja sun, many supported by family members, the issue goes beyond policy.
To them, it is about dignity, recognition, and justice after years of service.
Until a decision is made, they say their campaign will continue.
