Retired personnel of the Nigeria Police Force on Monday staged a protest in Abuja, demanding their removal from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and integration into the Nigerian Police Pension Board.
The demonstration took place at one of the entry gates to the Presidential Villa, as the retirees called on the Federal Government to address their concerns over welfare and retirement benefits.
The CPS is a pension arrangement in which both employer and employee contribute a portion of monthly earnings toward retirement savings, managed by licensed Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) with funds held by custodians.
What they are saying
The protesting retirees said their action was aimed at urging President Bola Tinubu to assent to the Police Exit Bill passed by the National Assembly on December 4, 2025, and forwarded to the presidency on March 16, 2026.
They argued that the proposed law would remove police personnel from what they described as an unfair and inadequate pension system.
A protester, retired DSP Christiana, appealed to the President to intervene over what she described as “contributory slavery”.
- “It is not even a contributory pension, but it is contributory slavery. Please, we have been slaves for a long time, we want the president to use his good office to get us from this contributory pension. You can imagine, a DSP will go home with 30,000 monthly,” lamented Christiana, who retired in 2024.
- “With the present economic situation now, what can N30,000 do? We cannot even take our children, our husbands, or even ourselves to the hospital because of the cost of drugs. In the market, we cannot buy anything with N30,000. Please, we are begging you to remove us from the contributory pension and establish us in the Nigerian Police Pension Board.”
The protesters stressed that the current system has left many retired officers struggling financially and unable to access basic healthcare and necessities.
They called for their migration to the Nigerian Police Pension Board, which they believe would offer better welfare and security.
Get up to speed
The protest is the latest in a series of demonstrations by retired police officers against the CPS.
In October 2025, retired officers in Imo State staged a similar protest, describing the scheme as unfavourable. Protests have also been held at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja over several weeks.
The agitations reflect longstanding dissatisfaction among police retirees regarding pension payouts and post-service welfare.
These recurring protests highlight growing pressure on the Federal Government to review the pension structure for police personnel.
More insights
Monday’s protest was led by Raphael Irowainu, National Coordinator of the group and a retired Chief Superintendent of Police, who said the primary objective of the protest was to ensure presidential assent to the Police Exit Bill.
- He noted that other security agencies, including the military and intelligence services, have been exempted from the CPS.
- According to him, the police should receive similar treatment given their critical role in national security.
- He described the continued inclusion of police personnel in the CPS as inconsistent with existing exemptions granted to other agencies.
He emphasised that the group’s demand is solely focused on securing approval for the bill and improving retirees’ welfare.
What you should know
Recent developments in the pension sector indicate ongoing reforms aimed at improving retirement benefits.
The Director-General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Omolola Oloworaran, recently announced plans under the “Pension Revolution 2.0” initiative.
- The reforms include the introduction of a minimum pension to ensure retirees receive a more sustainable income.
- PenCom also plans to roll out free health insurance for low-income earners, including pensioners.
- These measures are part of broader efforts to strengthen the pension system and enhance social protection.
Despite these reforms, pressure continues to mount from police retirees seeking a complete exit from the contributory scheme.
