Retired police officers under the aegis of the Police Retired Officers
Forum of Nigeria have stormed the National Assembly in Abuja, demanding an end to what they described as the “exploitative” Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and immediate presidential assent to a bill seeking to exempt the Nigeria Police Force from the scheme.
The retirees, who arrived at the National Assembly gate with family members, carried placards and banners and chanted, “President Bola Tinubu, sign our bill.” 
The protesters, dressed in matching blue T-shirts and face caps, said they would not suspend their demonstrations until President Bola Tinubu takes a decisive position on the Police Exit Bill.
Their latest action followed a seven-hour protest at the headquarters of the National Pension Commission (PenCom) in Abuja on Monday, where they accused the commission of frustrating efforts to remove the police from the CPS.
The protesters also demanded that PenCom Director-General, Omolola Oloworaran, stop what they described as interference in the presidential assent process.
A representative of PenCom’s management, Secretary and Legal Adviser Mohammed Sani, reportedly addressed the protesters on behalf of the director-general and appealed for calm, assuring them that the commission was working to improve retirement benefits.
The retirees, however, rejected the assurance, insisting that their demand was not for an adjustment to the existing scheme but for the complete exemption of the police from the CPS.
The leader of the forum, retired Chief Superintendent of Police Raphael Irowainu, said the protesters were at the National Assembly to press home their demand for immediate action on the bill, which he said was passed by the National Assembly on December 4, 2025.
According to him, the retirees believe the CPS has left former police officers with inadequate retirement benefits after decades of service.
“The reason why we were at the PenCom office was because of the role the DG PenCom had been playing on the police exit bill in conjunction with the police management team,” Irowainu said.
He alleged that officials opposed the police leaving the CPS, adding that the retirees would continue to mobilise until the President makes a decision on the legislation.
Irowainu said the group began its latest indefinite protest on September 29 after previous engagements with government officials failed to resolve the dispute.
He argued that the police should be treated differently from the CPS, noting that the military, Department of State Services and National Intelligence Agency were among institutions that had been exempted from the scheme following concerns over retirement benefits.
The retired officer alleged that police retirees receive significantly lower pensions and lump-sum payments than expected after long years of service.
He cited figures which he said showed that retired Assistant Superintendents of Police receive about N2.1 million to N2.5 million as lump sums and monthly pensions of roughly N25,000.
For Deputy Superintendents, he put the figures at about N2.2 million to N2.4 million in lump sums and N30,000 monthly, while Superintendents allegedly receive N2.5 million to N2.8 million and between N35,000 and N40,000 monthly.
He further claimed that retired Chief Superintendents receive about N3.5 million and between N39,000 and N45,000 monthly, while Assistant Commissioners allegedly receive N5 million to N6 million and between N50,000 and N57,000 monthly.
According to him, Deputy Commissioners receive about N6 million to N7 million in lump sums and approximately N60,000 monthly, while retired Commissioners of Police allegedly receive N7 million to N9 million and between N90,000 and N100,000 monthly.
Irowainu said the figures were unacceptable, arguing that poor retirement conditions could undermine the morale of serving police officers.
He also alleged that more than 20 retired officers had died within the past six months because they could not afford medical treatment.
“We have lost over 20 retirees as a result of lack of funds to take care of their medical needs,” he alleged, adding that the group was compiling the names of deceased members.
The retired officer further linked the pension controversy to alleged misconduct among serving police personnel, arguing that concerns about retirement could contribute to low morale and financial pressure within the force.
Irowainu said the pension-exemption bill was passed by the National Assembly on December 4, 2025, but was not transmitted to the President until March 16, 2026, according to his account.
He said the retirees subsequently protested at the Presidential Villa in April after the President failed to assent to the legislation.
According to him, the protesters suspended their action after receiving assurances that the matter would be resolved, but resumed their demonstrations on September 29 after no concrete action followed.
He said an intervention by the Inspector-General of Police in August also failed to produce a resolution.
The retirees have since taken their campaign to several government institutions, including the Ministries of Justice and Police Affairs.
Irowainu also accused PenCom officials of opposing the proposed exemption, citing comments he attributed to the commission’s director-general during a National Assembly public hearing.
He alleged that PenCom had raised concerns about the economic implications of removing the police from the CPS. He further alleged that officials of the commission had interests in maintaining the existing arrangement, but provided no independent evidence to substantiate the claim.
The protesters have vowed to sustain their demonstrations until Tinubu either assents to the bill or publicly explains his position on the legislation.
Irowainu said the group planned to take its protest to other strategic locations, including the Ministry of Finance, Police Service Commission and the United States Embassy, while also identifying several other locations for future demonstrations.
He maintained that the welfare of serving and retired police officers was directly linked to national security, insisting that the Federal Government must urgently resolve the pension dispute.
“We want Nigerians and the international community to understand that the welfare of the police, both serving and retired, is directly connected to the security of this country,” he said.
