Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 general elections, Omoyele Sowore, on Monday joined a group of retired police officers and activists in a protest in Abuja, demanding immediate withdrawal of retired personnel from the contributory pension scheme.
The protest, organized by the Nigerian Union of Retired Police Officers (NURPO), began at the National Assembly complex and was expected to move to the Force Headquarters. The retirees are calling for the federal government to address what they describe as “discriminatory and inhumane” pension policies affecting former police personnel.
Chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards, the retirees said the contributory pension scheme has led to untold hardship among their members, many of whom have died while waiting for meager benefits.
“We served this country and put our lives on the line. Now, in retirement, we’re being abandoned. The scheme is killing us,” one of the protesters lamented.
Activist and AAC leader, Omoyele Sowore, who marched alongside the retirees, accused the government of ignoring the plight of those who sacrificed their lives to protect the nation. He described the protest as a legitimate expression of frustration and a call for justice.
However, the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) had earlier cautioned against the protest, urging the retired officers to return to the negotiation table. In a statement, PCRC said the protest could be seen as an attempt to undermine the leadership of the Inspector General of Police and discredit the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Despite the warnings, the retirees said they were left with no choice but to take their grievances to the streets after repeated calls for reform were ignored.
As of the time of filing this report, the protest was peaceful, with security personnel deployed around key areas of the capital to maintain order.