Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 elections, Omoyele Sowore, alongside other activists, on Monday led retired police officers in a protest in Abuja to demand better welfare and pension conditions for Nigeria’s police personnel. The demonstration, which took place near the National Assembly complex, focused on the longstanding grievances of both serving and retired police officers over poor salaries, meagre pensions, and what protesters described as inhumane treatment of security personnel in the country.
The protesters, comprising retired policemen, activists, and concerned Nigerians, carried placards with inscriptions such as “Pay police a living wage and proper pensions,” “Decent Salaries Now,” “End Police Slavery,” “Pensions for Police Officers,” and “Dignity for Those in Uniform.” The group chanted solidarity songs and called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to immediately address their demands.
Speaking during the protest, Sowore lamented the poor remuneration and pension packages for the Nigerian police. He described the situation as unacceptable in a country where security personnel are essential to national stability. According to him, no police officer should be earning less than N500,000 per month, equivalent to about 300 US dollars. He noted that such an amount is still modest considering the current economic reality, yet many police officers earn significantly less.
“No policeman should earn less than N500,000 monthly. That’s about $300 dollars monthly, and that’s nothing compared to the sacrifices they make. We are saying enough is enough. We are here to talk about better conditions of service for men in service and those who are retired, and even for their family members. How can you serve the country for 35 years, and you go home with N2 million naira? It is wrong, it is inhumane, and it is unacceptable,” Sowore said.
The protest comes amid growing discontent among retired police officers, particularly over the controversial contributory pension scheme under which they have been placed. Members of the Nigerian Union of Retired Police Officers had earlier vowed to picket the National Assembly complex and later move to the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja to press for their exclusion from the contributory pension arrangement. The retired officers argued that the scheme leaves them with paltry benefits after decades of service, often without adequate healthcare or welfare support.
Some of the retired officers who spoke during the protest expressed deep frustration over the government’s failure to address their plight despite several appeals. They accused successive administrations of ignoring their welfare, leaving many of them in poverty and neglect after retirement. Many also lamented the rising cost of living in Nigeria, noting that their pensions are not enough to afford basic needs such as food, rent, and medical care.
The retirees and activists jointly demanded that police personnel be removed from the contributory pension scheme and returned to the defined benefits system, which they argued is more favourable for uniformed personnel who risk their lives daily for the country. They also called for a comprehensive review of police salaries and benefits to reflect current economic realities and to ensure that security officers live with dignity during and after service.
The protest also attracted attention on social media, where many Nigerians expressed solidarity with the retired officers and criticized the government’s handling of police welfare. Security analysts have often noted that poor welfare conditions for the police contribute to corruption, low morale, and inefficiency within the force. Observers have also warned that unless police welfare is improved, the country may continue to face security challenges, as officers will lack the motivation to perform effectively.
The Nigeria Police Force is yet to officially respond to the protest as of the time of this report. However, stakeholders expect that the government and relevant agencies will engage the retired officers and activists to find a lasting solution to the grievances raised.
