Over the last two days, the nation has witnessed what many now call a pension revolt — a powerful outcry from retired police officers who have taken to the streets in Abuja and other parts of Nigeria to protest the hardship and indignity they suffer under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
The protests, which temporarily shut down the Force Headquarters in Abuja, drew wide support, including from civil society organisations and human rights activists like Omoyele Sowore, who joined in solidarity.
The protesters were not demanding favours. They were demanding justice. These are men and women who spent 30 to 35 years in service to their country — braving insecurity, laying down their lives, and enduring poor working conditions — only to be rewarded with pensions as low as ₦19,000 a month. Some retired Commissioners of Police reportedly receive ₦57,000 monthly. How does anyone live on that in today’s Nigeria?
The CPS, they allege, is a scam. Unlike their counterparts in the military and customs — who are excluded from the scheme — most police officers from the rank of Commissioner downward are lumped into the CPS, while senior officers from Assistant Inspector General (AIG) to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), are exempt and enjoy full pensions. This institutional disparity has created a two-tier police force: one for the privileged top brass and another for the forgotten foot soldiers.
To compound the injustice, private Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) — tasked with managing these pensions — are often opaque and unaccountable. Retirees complain that their life savings are being “invested” without their knowledge or control, yielding meagre returns that cannot withstand Nigeria’s hyperinflation and economic decline. As Sowore aptly put it, “Retirement is a death sentence for many police officers under the CPS.”
Beyond retired officers, this crisis also reflects a deeper problem affecting serving police personnel. With poor wages and no meaningful welfare safety net, the pensions they contribute to are merely a reflection of the misery of their salaries. As such, a living wage must be the foundation of any pension reform conversation.
But perhaps the most disturbing part of this issue is the response of the authorities. Rather than engage the substance of the grievances, the Police Service Commission (PSC) condemned the protests, labeling participants and their supporters as “bad elements.” That response betrays not only insensitivity but detachment from the daily realities of the rank and file. As Sowore noted during the protests, “We didn’t come here to shame you. We brought you a mirror — this is what you’re going to be.”
The call to reform is not new, but the urgency has never been more critical. If Nigeria is serious about rebuilding public trust in the Nigeria Police Force, it must start by ensuring justice and dignity for those who have served — both retired and active. Equalizing the pension structure, removing discriminatory schemes, holding PFAs accountable, and providing sustainable welfare for officers should be non-negotiable.
Anything short of that is not just unjust — it is unpatriotic.
– Okechukwu Nwanguma is a human rights advocate, Executive Director of Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre Rulaac, and a leading voice on police reform and accountability in Nigeria.
