Tension gripped the nation’s capital on Monday as scores of retired police officers barricaded the main gate of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, demanding urgent intervention from Bola Tinubu over what they described as “inhumane and degrading” pension conditions.
The protest, led by members of the Police Retired Officers Forum of Nigeria, centered on a single demand: the immediate presidential assent to the Police Exit Bill. The bill, which seeks to remove police personnel from the controversial Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), was passed by the National Assembly of Nigeria on December 4, 2025, and transmitted to the President on March 16, 2026. However, weeks later, no official action has been taken.
Clad in worn uniforms and carrying placards, the retirees gathered as early as dawn, blocking access to the heavily guarded seat of power. Their chants echoed a common grievance—decades of service met with what they say are paltry retirement benefits. Some pensioners claimed they receive as little as ₦30,000 monthly after serving the nation for up to 35 years.
Speaking at the protest, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Raphael Irowainu (retd.), who led the group, expressed frustration over what he described as systemic neglect of police veterans. He noted that while members of the armed forces and operatives of the State Security Service had been removed from the CPS and placed on more favorable defined-benefit schemes, retired police officers remained trapped in what he termed a “broken system.”
“Our colleagues in the military and the SSS have been taken out of this suffering,” Irowainu said. “Why is the Nigeria Police different? We are not second-class citizens. We served this country with everything we had.”
One visibly frail protester, leaning on a walking stick, captured the desperation of the group. “We have served for 35 years,” he said, his voice trembling. “Today, we have no food to eat. Many of us are dying in silence.”
The proposed Police Exit Bill aims to establish a dedicated Nigeria Police Pension Board, which would manage a defined benefits scheme similar to that enjoyed by the military. Advocates argue that such a reform would ensure financial stability and dignity for retired officers who spent their careers confronting crime, insurgency, and civil unrest.
Security personnel at the Presidential Villa initially attempted to disperse the demonstrators, citing security concerns. However, the retirees remained resolute, insisting their protest would continue until their voices were heard. The demonstration persisted into the afternoon, drawing attention from passersby and raising concerns about the potential for escalation.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the Presidency regarding the bill or the protest. Analysts warn that the situation reflects broader dissatisfaction within Nigeria’s security architecture, particularly among personnel who feel abandoned after years of service.
The protest at Aso Rock underscores a deeper national question—how a country rewards those who once stood on the frontlines of its security. For these retirees, the answer, they insist, must begin with justice, dignity, and the stroke of a presidential pen.
