The Nigerian Union of Retired Police Officers under the Contributory Pension Scheme, Kaduna chapter, along with 35 other state branches including that of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has announced plans for a massive peaceful protest in Abuja on Monday, July 21.
In a formal letter sent to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and obtained by Chronicles Reporters, the group said the demonstration—described as the “mother of all peaceful protests”—is in response to the intense economic hardship and suffering retired officers are enduring under the current pension framework.
The letter, signed by retired Chief Superintendent of Police, Mannir M. Lawal Zaria, stated that the pensioners are plagued by “abject poverty,” which has contributed to a growing number of deaths among them.
The protest may include visits to prominent national institutions such as the National Assembly and the Force Headquarters in Abuja. The retirees are calling for urgent reform of the pension system and a total exit from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), which they believe has denied them a dignified life after decades of service.
“In all humility and respect, I, retired CSP Mannir M. Lawal Zaria, representing the above union, wish to notify you that on Monday, July 21, we will be staging a peaceful demonstration in Abuja. This action is driven by the severe poverty we are subjected to, which is causing untimely deaths among us. Likely locations for the protest include the National Assembly and the Force Headquarters,” the letter reads in part.
Backdrop of the Planned Protest
The demonstration planned for July 21, 2025, is the result of long-standing frustrations among retired officers over the failings of Nigeria’s Contributory Pension Scheme. Many retirees under this scheme have voiced concerns about receiving meagre monthly payments despite spending most of their lives in dedicated service to the country.
The National Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria (NARPON), formerly ARPON, has been at the forefront of this agitation. The association was formally registered as a trade union in January 2025 and officially affiliated with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in July.
Their core demands include a complete removal of the police force from the Contributory Pension Scheme, the establishment of a dedicated Police Pension Board, and an upward adjustment of pension benefits in line with years of service and the dangers faced while in active duty.
Retired officers have linked their present conditions to worsening economic hardship, depression, and an increasing death rate. They have also drawn attention to the wide disparity in pensions between police officers and other security agencies like the military, Department of State Services (DSS), and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), who are not bound by the contributory system.
Though the protest is expected to be peaceful and inclusive of retirees nationwide, some public commentators—including activist Omoyele Sowore—have warned that active-duty officers might also lend their support by withdrawing services as a form of solidarity.
Authorities Attempt to Suppress Protest Plans
Earlier this month, on July 11, Chronicles Reporters reported that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had ordered disciplinary measures against officers allegedly involved in protest mobilisation over low salaries, poor welfare, and dissatisfaction with the pension structure.
Reliable sources revealed that the IGP directed that Inspector Emoruwa Olabode and five other officers, who allegedly served as administrators of a WhatsApp group used to coordinate the protest plans, be demoted.
It was further disclosed that the officer who originally posted the protest information in the group would face dismissal from the Nigeria Police Force. Inspector Emoruwa, who was attached to the Idanre Police Station in Ondo State, was arrested on July 4 and kept in solitary confinement at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Akure. He was later transferred to Abuja.
Additionally, two other officers—Otamere Ewamade, also known as “Hero,” and Fasoyin Ayodeji—who also served as administrators of the same WhatsApp platform, were arrested and held at the Force Intelligence Department in Abuja, where they have reportedly been detained for over two weeks.
These arrests and other alleged repressive tactics by police authorities come amid rising anger over widespread mismanagement and lack of transparency in the administration of police pensions. Many officers across Nigeria have expressed fears of retiring into financial hardship, prompting louder calls for urgent pension reforms.
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