Retired Nigerian police officers, alongside their wives and children, on Monday took to the streets of Abuja to protest what they described as years of neglect under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
The protesters, who said they served the country for as long as 35 years before retirement, demanded that the Federal Government urgently remove retired police personnel from the scheme and address what they described as persistent challenges affecting their pensions and welfare.
Carrying placards and voicing their grievances, the retirees said their years of service to Nigeria had not translated into a decent or secure retirement.
According to them, despite dedicating decades of their lives to the Nigeria Police Force, many retired officers are still struggling with pension-related challenges and inadequate welfare.
One of the retired officers lamented that they had become a liability after years of service, questioning why retired police personnel should continue to face hardship after spending decades protecting the country.
The retirees also compared the treatment of former police officers with the government’s response to pension and welfare concerns involving retired military personnel, arguing that retired police officers deserve similar attention and support.
The protesters said their decision to take to the streets followed prolonged neglect of their concerns by relevant authorities.
They called on the President Bola Tinubu-led government to urgently review the pension arrangements affecting retired police officers and consider their demand for a total exit from the Contributory Pension Scheme.
They also appealed to the government to improve the welfare of retired police officers, saying those who spent their productive years serving and protecting the country should not be left to struggle after retirement.
The protesters urged the Tinubu’s administration and relevant government agencies to intervene in the matter and provide a lasting solution to their pension concerns.