Retired police officers have raised concerns over what they described as poor pension benefits, saying some of them receive about N1.5 million after 35 years of service.
The retirees also demanded their exit from the Contributory Pension Scheme managed by the National Pension Commission (PenCom), insisting that the system does not reflect the realities of their years of service.
They made their position known during a protest at the Oyo State Police Headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, where they decried what they called inadequate retirement payments.
Speaking during the protest, a retired Superintendent of Police, Joseph Alabi, said many ex-officers were struggling financially despite decades of service.
“For over two years now, we have been on this issue. Retired Nigerian police officers are facing difficulties,” he said. “As a retired SP, I receive about N70,000 monthly, which is challenging for basic upkeep and family responsibilities.”
Alabi questioned why police officers remain under the contributory pension arrangement while other security agencies have reportedly been moved to different schemes.
“Air Force, Navy, military and other agencies have been removed from this scheme, but the police are still there,” he added.
He urged the federal government to assent to a bill passed by the National Assembly that would allow the police to exit the scheme and establish a separate pension structure.
“All we are asking is for the President to assent to the bill so that we can have a system that caters to both retired and serving officers,” he said.
Another protester, retired Deputy Superintendent of Police Omotayo Salaudeen, who served for 35 years, said the benefits received after retirement were inadequate.
“How can someone serve for 35 years and receive about N1.5m or N2m? It is difficult to manage under such conditions,” he said.
Also speaking, retired electrical engineer Babatunde Oluwatoye, who joined the protest in solidarity, called for government intervention, noting that poor welfare for police retirees could affect morale among serving officers.
The protesters said they would continue to push their demands through lawful means, as similar demonstrations have been held in other parts of the country.
