Retired police officers have vowed to resume protests at the National Assembly on October 14, accusing the federal government of neglect and injustice in handling their pension concerns under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
The retirees, who have campaigned for years to be removed from the CPS, are demanding the establishment of a Nigerian Police Pension Board—a structure similar to those enjoyed by the military, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
Their renewed protest comes despite recent interventions by both President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector General of Police, who had pledged to address their grievances.
Mounting Frustration Despite Promises
In July, the Inspector General of Police publicly acknowledged the “humiliating conditions” faced by retired officers and said the police leadership had presented a proposal to the National Assembly to exempt the force from the CPS.
President Tinubu followed up on August 7 by directing the immediate implementation of overdue pension increases and free healthcare for low-income retirees under the scheme. He also ordered the National Pension Commission (PenCom) to resolve the issue surrounding police pensions.
But retired Chief Superintendent of Police, Mannir Lawal, who leads the aggrieved group, told The PUNCH that the government’s promises had failed to yield any tangible results.
“We are coming out en masse again on October 14 at the National Assembly,” Lawal said on Tuesday. “The President gave an order, but they are only trying to make minor adjustments to attract our attention. We have made it clear that we want a total exit from the CPS and the creation of the Nigerian Police Pension Board.”
‘The CPS Is a Scam’
Lawal said PenCom officials had met with the retirees but failed to convince them to remain under the current scheme.
“The PenCom boss met with us, and we made it clear that we don’t want to remain under the CPS,” he said. “The Army, the DSS, and the NIA have all exited the scheme. Why are the police being treated differently? Did we commit a crime by serving our country?”
He accused the system of exploitation, describing it as “a scam” that had impoverished many retired officers.
“People outside don’t know what is happening, but we inside know. The CPS is a scam — a real scam,” he said. “We’ve been on this for over 15 years. We’ve written to the President several times, but there’s been no concrete response. We’ve been pushed to the wall.”
Renewed Call for Reform
The retirees say they will continue their protest until the government grants their demand for a complete withdrawal from the CPS and the creation of a standalone Police Pension Board to manage their entitlements.
Their campaign underscores a broader debate over the fairness of Nigeria’s contributory pension system — a scheme designed to ensure long-term sustainability but which critics say has failed to protect vulnerable public servants, particularly those in the security sector.
As frustration deepens among retired police officers, the October 14 protest is expected to test the government’s willingness to deliver on long-promised pension reforms and to address growing discontent within one of Nigeria’s most vital yet underappreciated institutions.
