Despite heavy rainfall, a group of retired Nigerian police officers gathered at the National Assembly gate in Abuja on Monday, staging a peaceful protest to demand their removal from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
The elderly retirees, many in their 60s and 70s, braved the rain holding placards and singing solidarity songs, accusing the current pension system of being unjust and financially draining.
Leading the protest, retired Chief Superintendent of Police, Manir Lawal, criticized the CPS as an exploitative model that has left many former officers struggling in retirement.
“We are asking the government to take us out of this Contributory Pension Scheme. It has failed us. At our age, after serving the nation with loyalty, we should not be left to suffer,” Lawal said. “This is not just about money; it’s about our dignity.”
The demonstrators maintained that they would not leave the National Assembly premises until their grievances were acknowledged and addressed by lawmakers.
Security personnel were on ground to monitor the situation and ensure the demonstration remained peaceful.
The protest highlights growing frustrations among retired officers who feel neglected by the system they once served, and it adds to ongoing nationwide conversations about pension reforms for security personnel.
