Retired police officers took to the streets of Abuja on Monday to protest what they described as grossly inadequate pension entitlements after dedicating over three decades to law enforcement service in Nigeria.

The protest, which began at the Louis Edet House (Force Headquarters) and continued to the National Assembly Gate, saw the aggrieved pensioners chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards with messages such as “Scrap Police Contributory Pension Scheme” and “We Need Our Full Gratuity.”

Defying early morning rain, the elderly retirees stood their ground, lamenting the neglect of their welfare and dignity by the government. Their primary demand was for the removal of police retirees from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), which they described as unjust and exploitative.

“We are here to ask the government to remove us from the CPS,” said retired Chief Superintendent of Police, Manir Lawal. “I am 67 years old. Many of us are in our 60s and 70s. We served this country with loyalty and deserve to retire in dignity. This scheme has impoverished us. It is our right to demand better welfare.”

The protest also drew support from human rights activist and convener of the #RevolutionNow Movement, Omoyele Sowore, who joined the retirees in demanding immediate government action. Addressing the demonstrators, Sowore urged authorities to acknowledge the sacrifices of Nigerian police officers and uphold their entitlements.

Police officers were deployed to monitor the protest, ensuring it remained peaceful and orderly.

In response, the Police Service Commission (PSC) acknowledged the concerns raised by the retirees and assured that the issue was already receiving attention from relevant government bodies. However, in a statement signed by its Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, the Commission described the protest as “diversionary and in bad taste,” given that the matter is already under review.

Ani noted that the Commission’s Chairman, retired Deputy Inspector General of Police Hashimu Argungu, has consistently spoken against the current pension structure and advocated for a more equitable, streamlined pension scheme for retired police officers.

The protest underscores growing frustration among Nigeria’s security retirees and adds pressure on the government to urgently reform the police pension system.