Retired officers of the Nigeria Police Force, alongside their families, staged a protest on Monday, blocking a gate of the Presidential Villa in Abuja over dissatisfaction with the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
Operating under the Police Retired Officers Forum of Nigeria (PROF), the protesters described the scheme as “fraudulent, illegal, inhumane, and obnoxious,” calling on Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sign the Police Exit Bill into law.
The retirees, who turned out in large numbers, displayed placards and sang solidarity songs, urging the Federal Government to address what they described as longstanding concerns over their pensions and welfare. Despite the charged atmosphere, the protest remained orderly, with security personnel maintaining calm throughout.
Senior police officials, including a Deputy Inspector General and the FCT Commissioner of Police, addressed the protesters, appealing for patience and dialogue. They assured the retirees that their grievances had been acknowledged and relayed to the appropriate authorities.
Several hours into the demonstration, the President’s Chief Security Officer, CP Shugaba, met with the group and assured them that their demand to exit PENCOM would receive urgent attention, with a resolution expected by Monday. His intervention helped ease tensions.
As part of ongoing efforts to resolve the matter, two representatives of the retirees were invited to a closed-door meeting with government officials to further discuss their concerns.
The protest ended peacefully, with participants expressing cautious optimism that the Federal Government would respond promptly to their demands.
The President’s Chief Security Officer, CP Shugaba, assured them that their demand for removal from the National Pension Commission would be addressed by Monday.