Retired police officers and their families, under the umbrella of the Police Retired Officers Forum of Nigeria, on Monday staged a protest at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, blocking one of its gates to press home their demands.
The protesters are calling for the removal of the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), which they described as unjust and detrimental to their welfare.
Leading the demonstration, the group’s National Coordinator, Raphael Irowainu, said the protest was aimed at urging President Bola Tinubu to sign into law the Police Exit Bill.
According to the retirees, the bill—passed by the National Assembly of Nigeria on December 4, 2025, and transmitted to the Presidency on March 16, 2026—seeks to exempt police personnel from the CPS.
Irowainu argued that while other security agencies such as the military and intelligence services have been removed from the scheme, police officers remain subject to it.
“Our major aim is to prevail on the President to sign the bill exiting the police from the Contributory Pension Scheme into law,” he said, adding that the system has negatively impacted retired officers.
The protesters maintained that the current pension structure has led to hardship among retirees and must be urgently reviewed.
This is not the first time retired police personnel have protested over the issue. In July last year, they demonstrated at the National Assembly and later at Force Headquarters in Abuja, demanding similar reforms.
At the time, then Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, acknowledged concerns over retirees’ welfare but noted that exiting the CPS would require due process and could not be implemented immediately.
He also urged protest leaders to avoid spreading misinformation, assuring that the Force remained committed to addressing the concerns of its retired personnel.
