It’s Our Money! —Retired Police officers decry ₦2m retirement pay after 35 years

Frustration echoed at the gates of the National Assembly and the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters on Monday as retired police officers took to the streets to protest what they described as humiliating retirement benefits.

Many of the retirees revealed they received as little as ₦2 million after serving the nation for 35 years, blaming the Contributory Pension Scheme for their financial hardship.

Led by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, the protesters demanded immediate reforms, including the removal of the Nigeria Police from the scheme and the establishment of an independent Police Pension Board to manage their entitlements more transparently.

The protest, which was sparked by a viral video of a retired officer lamenting the payment of just ₦3 million after 35 years of service, brought renewed national attention to the plight of ex-police personnel in Nigeria.

The protest began at the Louis Edet House Force Headquarters and moved to the gates of the National Assembly.

The retired officers, some of whom appeared visibly distressed, bore placards and chanted slogans as they recounted years of service that ended in neglect and economic hardship.

At the heart of their demand is a call to dismantle the current pension structure under the CPS.

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The retirees insisted that the scheme has failed them, describing it as exploitative and unjust.

Many claimed that only 25 percent of their total pension was paid out to them at retirement, while the remaining 75 percent was retained by pension fund administrators who now give them monthly stipends that are too little to live on.

Yahya Musa, one of the protesters, said he receives just ₦45,000 monthly, an amount he described as grossly inadequate to meet even basic needs like rent or school fees.

He questioned how a man who had served the nation for 35 years could be expected to survive on such a sum.

Others, like Peter Adagazu, shared similar experiences, revealing that they are paid as little as ₦30,000 monthly, despite retiring with ranks as high as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) or Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).

Moses Kimson, the retired officer whose video went viral, told journalists at the protest ground that he rejected the ₦3 million given to him as retirement benefit.

He said he found it insulting that a man who served for more than three decades would be paid such a small amount and then asked to move on in silence.

According to him, his RSA (Retirement Savings Account) statements showed multiple years in which his pension deductions were not remitted.

The retirees accused the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force and pension administrators of deliberate mismanagement and manipulation of funds.

They alleged that pension deductions were made from their salaries for years but were not reflected in their final entitlements.

One retiree, holding up his statement of account, claimed that for over two years no deductions were paid into his pension account, leaving him shortchanged upon retirement.

There was visible anger among the protesters as they condemned what they described as empty promises from the Inspector General of Police and other senior officers.

They claimed previous meetings and assurances had yielded no results as many expressed deep frustration that while the highest-ranking officers of the Force were able to exempt themselves from the CPS, the lower-ranking personnel were left to suffer its consequences.

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Some recounted harrowing personal experiences, including injuries sustained while serving in conflict zones such as Liberia.

One retiree said he contracted a stroke in the line of duty and now struggles to pay for treatment, while another tearfully shared that he was left with just ₦30,000 monthly after 35 years of active service.

Beyond the call for better payments, the protesters demanded the establishment of a Police Pension Board to directly manage the pensions of officers and ensure transparency and accountability.

They maintained that the government must pay them their full entitlements and stop treating them like “forgotten tools” once their uniforms are retired.

They vowed not to relent until their demands are met, declaring that they are ready to continue protesting and engaging the media to expose what they described as a systemic injustice.

With chants of “It’s our money, give it to us!” ringing out at the gates of the National Assembly and Louis Edet House, the retired officers made clear that they would no longer suffer in silence.