Retired officers of the Nigeria Police Force on Tuesday stormed the National Assembly in Abuja, demanding the removal of the force from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), which they described as a fraudulent arrangement designed to impoverish them after decades of service.
The retirees, who have been occupying the Assembly complex since Monday, vowed not to vacate the premises until the federal government takes decisive action. They branded the scheme “the latest 419 in Nigeria” and insisted on a complete withdrawal from what they termed a “wicked system.”
CSP Rafael (rtd.), National Coordinator of the Retired Police Officers’ Association of Nigeria, explained that the protest was initially scheduled for September 29 but was delayed due to the lawmakers’ recess.
“Whether or not they postpone their resumption, we will remain here. Afterward, we shall announce our next course of action. Our demand is total exit from this scheme,” Rafael stated.
The retirees lamented that after serving the nation for 35 years, many were left with meagre pensions.
“What a calamity! After 35 years of service, an Assistant Superintendent of Police collects just N3 million, while some receive as little as N1.5 million. This is wickedness against humanity and a government-orchestrated attempt to undermine national security,” one of the protesters declared angrily.
They warned that failure to ensure decent pensions for retired officers could worsen corruption and brutality among serving policemen.
“If you don’t pay us well, those still serving will be worse. Before, they only mounted roadblocks to collect money. Now, they will slap you, and if you refuse to give them money, anything can happen,” another retiree cautioned.
The protesters accused government officials and pension fund administrators of deliberately trapping the police in the CPS, unlike other security agencies such as the military, DSS, and NIA, which operate independent pension boards.
“We are the largest security agency in Africa with over 350,000 personnel, yet we are treated like beggars. We demand that President Bola Tinubu immediately remove the police from this fraudulent scheme,” Rafael insisted.
The retirees further threatened to shut down the National Assembly when lawmakers resume if their demands are ignored, stressing that their protest is not political but a fight for survival.
“We are not here to fight, and this is not political. What we are fighting for is our lives and the future of serving officers, who must believe their sacrifices will be rewarded,” the coordinator said.
They pledged to sustain their nationwide occupation of the Assembly until their demand for the police’s removal from the Contributory Pension Scheme is met.
