Retired police officers in Kwara State have accused the Federal Government of turning its back on thousands of former security personnel by keeping them in a “failed and exploitative contributory pension scheme”.
The ex-officers, under the Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria (ARPON), Kwara chapter, staged a peaceful protest in Ilorin, on Monday.
They demanded immediate exemption from the scheme and the creation of a dedicated Police Pension Board.
Dressed in black and holding placards with bold messages that read, “We Are Not Slaves” and “Exempt Us from CPS Now among others,” the retirees marched through major streets before converging at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Press Centre.
They expressed frustration over what they called a life of misery after decades of service to the country.
Some said their gratuities after 35 years in uniform were less than ₦3 million, while others lamented monthly pensions as low as ₦30,000.
“This scheme is a trap. It is robbing those who gave their lives to this country. It is unjust, it is degrading, and it must stop”, said Yakubu Jimoh, the state chairman of ARPON and a retired Chief Superintendent of Police
Jimoh also criticized former top-ranking police officers, including former Inspectors General and their deputies, for allegedly exiting the scheme quietly while leaving junior officers to suffer.
“If this scheme is so good, why did the police generals abandon it? The military protected their own, but the police were left behind,” he said.
They raised concerns over a ₦758 billion pension shortfall reportedly owed to security agencies and demanded immediate clarity from the National Assembly and the Ministry of Finance on the status of the funds.
“Our patience is not infinite. We have served this country with honour. All we are asking for is fairness”, Jimoh added.
The group further called for the release of the Senate Committee report on the bill for a Police Pension Board, which has been pending since a public hearing held in November 2024.
Adekunle Iwalaiye, ARPON’s legal adviser and a retired Superintendent, described their plight as a ticking time bomb for the country’s internal security.
“When officers know they will retire into poverty, they stop caring about integrity. That is how corruption grows. You cannot pay a man ₦2.4 million after 35 years and expect him to retire with dignity,” Iwalaiye said.
He added that several members are battling health issues without any form of support, despite dedicating the best years of their lives to national service.
