In mid-July 2025, retired members of the Nigerian Police Force announced a nationwide protest slated for July 21 to demand withdrawal from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), which they blame for widespread financial hardship and even deaths among their ranks. The protest, dubbed the “Mother of All Peaceful Protests,” was organized under the newly registered National Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria (NARPON), now affiliated with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and drew participation from state chapters including Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory. Retirees alleged that pensions under the CPS, ranging from ₦18,000 to ₦75,000 monthly, are insufficient after years of service, and that the scheme lacks equity compared to benefits received by military and intelligence personnel.
Reform advocates—including retired senior officers and key legislators—have long called for the Nigeria Police to exit CPS and return to a Defined Benefits Scheme via the Police Pension Board Bill, which passed Senate and House committees but awaits presidential assent. Retirees argue that CPS was imposed on them unfairly and demand prompt legislative action to correct the imbalance .
In response, the Nigeria Police Force acknowledged the retirees’ grievances and affirmed their legitimacy while simultaneously warning that elements may seek to politicize or hijack the protest. The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, described efforts to weaponize retirees’ welfare issues for political gain as “disruptive and manipulative,” insisting that the protest be allowed to proceed peacefully while protection and dignity are upheld. The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, directed commissioners nationwide—especially in Abuja—to provide security and ensure no interference by non-retirees or miscreants.
The Force also stressed that exiting CPS is a complex policy issue, beyond the authority of any single official. Legal and fiscal constraints have continuously stalled the process despite support from successive IGs since 2014. Meanwhile, plans to mitigate hardship are underway via a dual-track approach: mobilizing internally generated revenues to supplement pensions and partnering with private institutions to establish welfare support programmes.
While urging retirees to engage in dialogue and consider deferring protest, the Police Service Commission (PSC) condemned the timing of the protest as “ill‑timed” and potentially diversionary amid ongoing government efforts to address pension disparities. The PSC encouraged retirees to work through existing channels and engage constructively with lawmakers.
As the protest approached, both the police and pension authorities remained under scrutiny, facing pressure from civil society groups and unions not part of NARPON. Observers caution that without urgent reforms and clarity from the federal government, the protest may intensify. Yet authorities emphasize that the integrity and symbolic value of peaceful protest must be preserved, while committing to translating dialogue into concrete policy steps.
Credit: Punch news
