Retired Police Officers To Stage Nationwide Protest Over Unpaid Pensions

Retired police officers across Nigeria are planning a nationwide protest to demand better treatment and solutions to ongoing pension problems.

The Kaduna State chapter of the Union of Retired Police Officers announced the protest after a recent meeting held at the Police Officers’ Mess in Kaduna.

The group said the planned demonstration dubbed the “Mother of All Peaceful Protests,” would be held on July 21, 2025.

The union’s chairman, Mannir M. Zaria, and vice chairman, Danlami Maigamo, said the protest aims to draw attention to the hardships retired officers face under the Contributory Pension Scheme.

They claim the Contributory Pension Scheme has left many struggling financially, caused emotional distress, and contributed to rising cases of depression and death among their ranks.

“We have no option but to embark on another peaceful protest tagged ‘Mother of All Peaceful Protests’ on July 21, 2025,” the union declared.

The group said the peaceful protest will take place simultaneously across all 36 states, stressing that as former law enforcement officers, they remain committed to peaceful advocacy.

“As law-abiding citizens, we shall continue to pursue our demand for the Nigeria Police to be excluded from the Contributory Pension Scheme through peaceful means until our voices are heard,” the statement added.

The group also recalled a previous protest held earlier this year, between February 24 and March 3, when retired officers from Kaduna and Bauchi States stormed the National Assembly.

During that protest, they submitted petitions to key offices, including the Senate and House committee chairs and the Director of the Department of State Services.

Despite that effort, the union expressed frustration over the continued silence from lawmakers after a public hearing on the Police Pension Board Bill was held back in November 2024, with no follow-up since.

They also made it clear they are not part of any group planning violent demonstrations, saying their cause is based solely on the need for fair treatment and financial dignity.

“The silence from the authorities is deafening, but we remain committed to lawful engagement,” the group stated.

The union said the solution lies in removing the Nigeria Police from the Contributory Pension Scheme and establishing an independent Police Pension Board that will handle their welfare directly and fix “a deeply flawed and unjust system.”

KanyiDaily recalls that more than 480 Police Constables previously held a protest over the non-payment of their salaries for 18 months in Osogbo, Osun State capital.