By Kabiru Abdulrauf
Agitation over police welfare deepened on Wednesday as retired officers staged a peaceful protest in Abuja, demanding their removal from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), which they described as unfair and exploitative.
The demonstration, organized under the banner of the Police Retired Officers Forum (PROF), drew participants from across the country, all calling on the Federal Government to establish a dedicated Police Pension Fund.
Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “We served with our lives, don’t abandon us in retirement” and “Police deserve better welfare,” the retirees gathered at key points in the nation’s capital to press home their demands.
One of the protesters accused the government of marginalizing former police personnel under the current pension structure, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to issue an executive order exempting the police from the scheme.
The Chairman and National Coordinator of the forum, Retired Chief Superintendent of Police Rafael, described the CPS as “demonic and demoralizing,” saying it has left many retired officers impoverished after decades of service.
“We gave our youth and strength to secure this country. Today, we are treated like we never served. The CPS has brought pain, not relief. We are asking for justice and dignity,” he said.
The retirees warned that continued neglect of police welfare could undermine morale and national security, emphasizing that pension reform within Nigeria’s security sector is long overdue.
The protest adds to growing calls for a comprehensive review of the country’s pension policies, particularly for security agencies whose service conditions differ significantly from other public sectors.
