By Anthony Otaru, Abuja
Angry retirees of the Nigeria Police Force, joined by their families, on Monday took their protest to the doorstep of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, blocking an entrance as they intensified calls for their removal from the Contributory Pension Scheme.
Under the umbrella of the Police Retired Officers Forum of Nigeria, the demonstrators openly condemned the pension structure, branding it “fraudulent, illegal, inhumane and obnoxious,” while insisting it has failed to guarantee their welfare after years of service.
Leading the protest, retired Chief Superintendent of Police Raphael Irowainu, said their action was driven by frustration over delays in signing the Police Exit Bill into law.
He noted that the bill, which seeks to exempt police personnel from the scheme, had already been passed by the National Assembly in December 2025 and transmitted to the Presidency in March 2026.
“We are here to demand justice,” Irowainu declared. “The President must sign the Police Exit Bill without further delay. Our members can no longer survive under a pension system that has brought hardship and neglect.”
He argued that the continued inclusion of police retirees in the scheme amounts to unequal treatment, pointing out that other security agencies, including the military and intelligence services, have been exempted.
Many of the protesters said the scheme has left them financially strained, with some struggling to meet basic needs.
“After dedicating our lives to the country, we deserve better,” one retiree said. “This system has reduced many of us to hardship.”
The demonstration adds to a growing wave of agitation by retired police personnel, who have repeatedly staged protests in Abuja, including a similar rally at the National Assembly in July 2025, all aimed at securing their exit from the contributory pension arrangement.
