Former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, on Monday joined a group of retired police officers and human rights activists in a protest in Abuja, demanding improved welfare and pension conditions for police personnel.
The demonstrators, who gathered in front of the National Assembly complex, chanted solidarity songs and carried placards bearing bold messages such as “Decent Salaries Now,” “End Police Slavery,” “Pensions for Police Officers,” and “Dignity for Those in Uniform.” They later proceeded toward the Force Headquarters to continue their peaceful protest.
At the heart of their agitation is a call for the federal government to remove retired police officers from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), which they described as unfair and degrading to those who have served the country.
Sowore, addressing journalists during the protest, criticized the poor remuneration structure of the police and called for urgent reforms to address the plight of both serving and retired officers.
“No policeman should earn less than ₦500,000 monthly. That’s about $300, and that’s still not enough,” Sowore said. “We are saying enough is enough. We’re here to talk about better conditions of service for men in service, for those who are retired, and even for their families.”
He further condemned the retirement benefits being offered to officers after decades of service.
“How can you serve the country for 35 years and go home with just ₦2 million? That’s inhumane and unacceptable,” he added.
The Nigerian Union of Retired Police Officers, which had earlier announced plans for a nationwide protest, reiterated its demand for the government to withdraw all retired officers from the CPS and transition them into a more sustainable and dignified pension scheme.
The protest comes a day after the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, directed all Commissioners of Police to provide adequate security for the peaceful demonstration and ensure that the rights of the retirees are fully protected.
