Retired Nigerian police officers have launched a vigorous protest at the National Assembly in Abuja, condemning the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) as a fraudulent system designed to impoverish them after decades of dedicated service. The protesters, who began camping at the Assembly complex earlier this week, have vowed not to leave until the federal government completely removes the Nigeria Police Force from the CPS, which they have controversially branded as 'the latest 419 (fraud) in Nigeria' and a 'Ponzi scheme'.

Omoyele Sowore, a prominent human rights activist and former presidential candidate, joined the protest, strongly echoing the officers' sentiments. He described the CPS as a deliberate scheme to enrich fund managers and political elites at the expense of police personnel and other workers. Sowore highlighted a stark contrast, noting that while civil servants once anticipated retirement as a time for significant purchases like a house or car, retirees today struggle to afford even basic necessities. He accused the Nigerian state of culpability in the high mortality rate among police retirees, attributing their suffering to inadequate pensions and gratuities, a plight he says is not shared by other security agencies like the Army, Customs, Immigration, or the Department of State Services (DSS), all of whom benefit from separate, more favorable pension schemes.

CSP Rafael (retired), the National Coordinator of the Retired Police Officers’ Association in Nigeria, articulated the officers' unwavering resolve. He stated that despite a planned postponement due to lawmakers' recess, their protest would continue, emphasizing that their demand for total exit from the 'wicked scheme' is non-negotiable. Protesters lamented receiving 'peanuts' after 35 years of service, citing examples where an Assistant Superintendent of Police might receive as little as N3 million, with some getting even less than N1.5 million, describing it as 'a calamity' and 'wickedness to humanity'. This situation, they warned, poses a direct threat to national security, as it could compel serving officers to resort to extortion and violence, thereby worsening societal problems.

Sowore, despite his history of clashes with the police, expressed solidarity, stressing the indispensable role of law enforcement in Nigeria's stability. He criticized the profound corruption within the political elite, particularly lawmakers, suggesting their 'gluttony' dwarfs any 'petty corruption' among police officers. Furthermore, he admonished serving police officers not to be used as political tools in future elections, urging them to recognize their true allies and adversaries, emphasizing that their fight for welfare is inherently political.

The retirees underscored that their agitation transcends politics, framing it as a desperate fight for survival and a bid to ensure that serving officers can have confidence in a future where their sacrifices are justly rewarded. They reiterated that the Nigeria Police Force, comprising over 350,000 personnel, is the largest security agency in Africa, yet its members are treated 'like beggars' under the current pension system. They collectively called upon President Bola Tinubu to act immediately and expeditiously to remove the police from the perceived fraudulent scheme, threatening to shut down the National Assembly upon the lawmakers' resumption if their crucial demand remains ignored.