Retired Police officers stage nationwide protest

Retired police officers across Nigeria have taken to the streets in a coordinated nationwide protest over what they describe as years of injustice and neglect under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

The protests, which began Monday morning, saw large turnouts in several states as retirees, many in uniform, marched peacefully with placards demanding their removal from the CPS and immediate payment of over ₦758 billion in pension arrears.

Chanting solidarity songs and carrying signs that read “We Deserve Dignity in Retirement” and “Remove Police From CPS Now!”, the protesters decried what they called a system that has reduced them to beggars despite risking their lives in service to the country.

“We’re tired of dying in silence,” said one of the retirees in Lagos. “After 35 years of service, how can we be receiving ₦60,000 monthly, while others on the Defined Benefit Scheme earn far more with dignity?”

The protest, organized by the Nigeria Police Retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme (NPRCPS), is being held simultaneously in nearly all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with support from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

Authorities have appealed for calm. The Police Service Commission (PSC) and Force Headquarters earlier described the protest as ill-timed but assured that officers would be on standby to prevent any breakdown of law and order.

Despite government resistance, the retirees insist they will not back down until their demands are met. Many say the protest is not just about money, but about fairness, justice, and restoring the dignity of those who served.