ABUJA — Tensions are mounting as retired police officers across Nigeria have issued a strong warning of a nationwide strike set for August 2025, over lingering grievances tied to the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). The aggrieved retirees staged a protest in Abuja on Tuesday, demanding urgent government intervention to exit the scheme, which they described as exploitative and unsustainable.
The protesters, who converged at the National Assembly Complex, carried placards with inscriptions such as “Police Are Dying in Penury,” “End CPS for Retired Police Officers,” and “We Deserve Dignity After Service.” They lamented the irregularities and delays in pension payments, low monthly stipends, and the failure of Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) to provide transparent and humane support after retirement.
According to the Chairman of the Concerned Retired Police Officers, Emmanuel Sunday, the CPS has subjected thousands of retired officers to untold hardship, despite dedicating decades of their lives to safeguarding the nation.
“We are not beggars; we served this country diligently. The Contributory Pension Scheme is killing us slowly. Some of our members get as low as ₦10,000 a month. That is not a pension — it’s punishment,” Sunday said while addressing reporters.
The group is calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to approve the exit of police officers from the CPS and return them to the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), which they argue is better suited to uniformed personnel given the risks and peculiar nature of their service.
A formal petition has been submitted to the leadership of the National Assembly, with the retirees demanding legislative backing to amend relevant sections of the Pension Reform Act, 2014.
Security operatives were stationed at key entry points around the National Assembly to prevent disruption, though the protest remained peaceful.
This is not the first time retired police personnel have taken to the streets over pension issues. However, this latest protest is being viewed with increased urgency due to the looming strike threat, which could see a coordinated nationwide disruption by police retirees, their families, and sympathisers if demands are not met by the end of July.
The federal government is yet to issue an official response, though sources within the National Pension Commission (PenCom) indicate that a high-level meeting with the Ministry of Police Affairs is being scheduled to address the concerns.
