By Joy Yesufu
Former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, on Monday led a group of retired police officers and civil society activists in a protest in Abuja, demanding reforms to the pension system for retired personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.
The demonstration, which began at the National Assembly Complex and proceeded to the Force Headquarters, was organised by the Nigerian Union of Retired Police Officers.
The retirees are calling for their removal from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), which they described as “discriminatory and inhumane,” alleging that many of their colleagues have died due to poor post-service welfare.
The union insisted that the current pension arrangement does not cater adequately to the needs of retired officers, and urged the Federal Government to revert to the defined benefits scheme used prior to the introduction of the CPS.
In defiance of warnings issued by the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), which advised against public protests and urged the retirees to return to the negotiation table, the demonstrators marched peacefully while chanting slogans and carrying placards.
The PCRC had earlier criticised the planned protest as an attempt to undermine the leadership of the Inspector General of Police and discredit the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
However, Sowore and other activists maintained that the demonstration was a legitimate and constitutional expression of grievances by neglected citizens.
“We are here today to amplify the voices of retired officers who have spent decades serving this country, only to be abandoned at retirement,” Sowore told reporters. “Their demand is simple: dignity in retirement.”
Meanwhile, during the protest, a man in mufti snatched Sowore’s glasses at the Force Headquarters.
Sowore has accused a police officer of stealing his glasses in a post on Facebook.
“This Nigeria Police Force officer, dressed in mufti, stole my AI Ray-Ban glasses at the Force headquarters during #PoliceProtest today.
His superiors are shielding him. Please DM if you know his name and rank as soon as possible!,” Sowore posted on his verified social media account, sparking widespread reactions online.
The protest comes amid growing public scrutiny of Nigeria’s pension administration and increasing calls for broader welfare reforms for security personnel.
