Some retired police officers in Edo State took to the streets of Benin City on Monday in a peaceful protest, voicing strong dissatisfaction with the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) introduced by the federal government in 2004. The protesting retirees demanded their removal from the scheme, which they described as exploitative and detrimental to their welfare.
The demonstration, which caught the attention of onlookers and passersby in the capital city, saw dozens of retired officers carrying placards with messages condemning the scheme. They marched through major streets, chanting and calling on government authorities to take swift action to address their concerns.
At the heart of their demands is the complete exit of retired police officers from the Contributory Pension Scheme. The retirees are pushing for a return to the Defined Benefit Pension Scheme, which they argue offered more security and predictability compared to the current system.
During a press conference held after the protest, the Chairman of the CPS Retirees in Edo State, Anthony Nnachor, a retired Superintendent of Police, highlighted the dire conditions faced by many of his colleagues. He claimed that some had died as a direct result of the financial stress and poverty they endured following retirement.
“It has become imperative for us to tell the world the problem we are going through. We are now living in abject poverty and can no longer meet our responsibilities as parents,” Nnachor stated emotionally.
He explained how the scheme operates: police officers contribute 7% of their monthly salaries, while the federal government adds another 8%. Upon retirement, officers receive only 25% of their total contributions as a one-time payment, with the rest distributed in monthly stipends by pension administrators. This method, he claimed, has proven to be financially unsustainable and dehumanizing.
“The scheme is a killer disease. We have been in this struggle since 2019. The 9th National Assembly passed our bill, but the 10th Assembly failed to harmonise it. Public hearings have been held, yet the process has been adjourned indefinitely. We want the National Assembly to act and pass the bill,” Nnachor lamented.
He called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene and ensure the National Assembly fast-tracks the passage of the bill seeking to exempt police personnel from the CPS. He urged the President to issue directives to relevant agencies and authorities to secure the well-being of those who had served the country in uniform.
Also lending his voice, the association’s Publicity Secretary, Comrade Johnson Oyameda, appealed to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to lend his support to their cause. He said the IGP must stand up for retired personnel and act as a bridge between them and the federal government.
Another protester, Comrade John Adu, stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in the administration of police pensions. He insisted that it was unjust for those who had risked their lives in service of the nation to be treated with disregard during retirement.
The retirees insisted that the CPS has failed to meet their needs and expectations, and called on the government to reinstate the previous defined benefit scheme, which they believe would provide a more secure and humane retirement experience.