Retired police officers have raised concerns over what they described as meagre retirement benefits, with some saying they received as little as N1.5m after 35 years of service.
The retirees also renewed calls for their removal from the Contributory Pension Scheme managed by the National Pension Commission.
The aggrieved ex-officers staged a protest at the Oyo State Police Command headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, to express dissatisfaction over their pensions, which they said were inadequate for post-service living.
Speaking during the demonstration, a retired Superintendent of Police, Joseph Alabi, lamented the financial hardship faced by many former officers.
“For over two years now, we have been on this issue. Retired Nigerian police officers are facing difficulties,” he said.
“As a retired SP, I receive about N70,000 monthly, which is challenging for basic upkeep and family responsibilities.”
Alabi questioned why police personnel remained under the contributory pension scheme while other security agencies had exited.
“Air Force, Navy, military and other agencies have been removed from this scheme, but the police are still there,” he added.
He urged the President to assent to a bill passed by the National Assembly that would allow the police to withdraw from the scheme and establish a separate pension structure.
“All we are asking is for the President to assent to the bill so that we can have a system that caters to both retired and serving officers,” he said.
Another protester, a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police, Omotayo Salaudeen, described the benefits as grossly inadequate.
“How can someone serve for 35 years and receive about N1.5m or N2m? It is difficult to manage under such conditions,” he said.
A retired electrical engineer, Babatunde Oluwatoye, who joined the protest in solidarity, also called for urgent government intervention, noting that welfare concerns could affect morale among serving personnel.
“When officers are adequately supported, it can positively impact their performance. Concerns about retirement conditions may affect motivation,” he said.
The retirees vowed to sustain their agitation through lawful means until their demands are addressed.
The Ibadan protest follows similar demonstrations in Abuja and other parts of the country, as calls for pension reforms within the police force continue to grow.
