VIDEO: Retired police officers block Villa gate, protest pension scheme

Retired police officers have taken their grievances to the gates of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, staging a protest against the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). Under the banner of the Police Retired Officers Forum of Nigeria, these former personnel and their families are demanding an immediate exit from what they vehemently describe as a "fraudulent, illegal, inhumane and obnoxious" pension system.

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We are not begging anybody. We have come to fight for our rights. We have suffered.

The protesters carried placards with slogans like "End CPS" and questioned why the police were not exempted when other security agencies such as the military, DSS, and Air Force have been removed from the scheme. Their central demand is for President Bola Tinubu to assent to the Police Exit Bill, which was passed by the National Assembly on December 4, 2025, and transmitted to the Presidency on March 16, 2026. They believe this bill is crucial to liberate police personnel from a pension scheme they claim leads to "slavery and untimely death."

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We are not able to take care of our children. We have no food to eat. We are dying. Silent killing. So this contributory pension scheme is a killer disease.

Speaking to journalists, retired officers shared harrowing accounts of their financial struggles, with some receiving as little as 24,000 Naira after 35 years of service. They lamented their inability to care for their families and meet basic needs, painting a grim picture of life after service under the current pension arrangement. The protest, described as a "do or die" affair by one participant, underscores the deep-seated frustration and desperation among retired police personnel who feel their service to the nation has not been adequately rewarded, leading to immense hardship in their old age. This situation is viewed locally as a matter of justice and recognition for those who have dedicated their lives to national security.

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It is 24,000 that I am paying you because I retired with the inspector. So they have to sign our bill and give us all our money.