Retired Police Officers Protest At NASS, Condemn Contributory Pension Scheme as Fraud
Retired Nigerian police officers on Tuesday stormed the National Assembly in Abuja, describing the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) as a fraudulent system that has condemned them to poverty after decades of service.
The protesters, who have been camping at the Assembly complex since Monday, vowed not to vacate the premises until the Federal Government removes the Nigeria Police Force from the CPS, which they called “the latest 419 in Nigeria.”
CSP Rafael (retd.), National Coordinator of the Retired Police Officers’ Association in Nigeria, said the protest was initially fixed for September 29 but was shifted due to lawmakers’ recess.
“Whether they postpone their resumption or not, we will remain here. Afterward, we shall make pronouncements on the next line of action. Our demand is total exit from this wicked scheme,” he stated.
The retirees lamented that after 35 years of service, many of them were paid meagre pensions.
“What a calamity, what wickedness to humanity! After 35 years, an Assistant Superintendent of Police collects just N3 million, while some get as little as N1.5 million. This is a government-orchestrated attempt to undermine national security,” one angry protester said.
They warned that poor pension for retirees would directly affect serving policemen, who may turn to extortion and violence to survive.
“If you fail to 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 don’t give them money, anything can happen,” another retiree declared.
The protesters accused government officials and pension administrators of deliberately entrapping the police in the CPS, unlike other security agencies such as the military, DSS, and NIA, which run their independent pension boards.
“We are the largest security agency in Africa with over 350,000 personnel, yet we are treated like beggars. We don’t want this nonsense. We demand that President Bola Tinubu immediately and expeditiously remove the police from this fraudulent scheme,” Rafael insisted.
They threatened to shut down the National Assembly once lawmakers resume if their demands are ignored, stressing that their agitation is a fight for survival and not politically motivated.
“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 have confidence that their sacrifices will be rewarded,” the national coordinator added.
The retirees pledged to continue occupying the National Assembly nationwide and indefinitely until the Nigeria Police Force is removed from the Contributory Pension Scheme.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
