Amid a downpour in Abuja, a group of retired police officers on Monday gathered at the entrance gate of the National Assembly, staging a peaceful but defiant protest against their inclusion in the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
The elderly ex-officers, some in their 60s and 70s, stood in the rain holding placards and chanting solidarity songs, demanding what they say is long-overdue justice regarding their post-service welfare.
Leading the protest was retired Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Manir Lawal, who decried the CPS as exploitative and economically harmful to retirees who had dedicated decades of service to the nation.
“We are here to ask the government to remove us from the CPS. The pension scheme is exploitative and unjust,” Lawal stated.
“I am 67 years old. Many of us here are in our 60s and 70s. We have served this country faithfully and deserve to retire in dignity. This scheme has impoverished us. It is our right to demand better.”
Despite the rain, the protesters refused to back down, insisting that they would remain at the gate until their grievances were acknowledged by lawmakers. Some carried placards with inscriptions like “We Deserve Justice” and “Retirement Should Not Mean Suffering.”
Security personnel monitored the protest closely, ensuring calm and order while allowing the retirees to air their demands peacefully.
The protest underscores growing dissatisfaction among public sector retirees over the Contributory Pension Scheme, which has long been a subject of controversy, especially within the ranks of the Nigeria Police Force.
