A retired police officer collapsed on Thursday at the National Assembly complex in Abuja as hundreds of former members of the Nigeria Police Force staged a major protest over the non-payment of their pensions and other benefits, years after serving the nation.
The protesting retirees, many of them frail and visibly weak, stormed the main entrance of the National Assembly with placards and banners bearing inscriptions such as “We Are Dying in Silence,” “Pay Us Our Pensions,” and “35 Years of Service, Nothing to Show.”
The protest, which temporarily disrupted movement within the complex, saw the elderly ex-officers chanting solidarity songs and accusing the Federal Government of abandoning them to “die in poverty and shame.”
Eyewitnesses told SaharaReporters that one of the retirees, believed to be in his late 70s, suddenly slumped while chanting alongside his colleagues.
His fellow protesters rushed to his aid as security personnel on the ground called for medical assistance. He was later revived after being administered first aid.
The retirees, under the aegis of the Contributory Pension Scheme Police Retirees Association, lamented that despite serving the nation diligently for over three decades, they have been subjected to untold hardship due to what they described as “the wickedness and neglect of the Nigerian state.”
They demanded to be removed from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), which they insist has impoverished them, and be returned to the old Defined Benefits Scheme that guaranteed more stable post-service welfare.
In October, human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, had joined the retired police officers at a similar protest at the National Assembly in Abuja, also demanding the scrapping of the CPS.
The protesting retirees had described the scheme as a “fraudulent arrangement” that left them destitute after decades of service to the nation.
Sowore, who stood in solidarity with the protesters, pledged his continued support until their demands are met. He condemned the Nigerian government’s treatment of pensioners, saying those who served the country faithfully deserve dignity and comfort, not hunger and humiliation.
“I’m not just fighting for the police; I’m fighting with retired policemen. You started this struggle, and I’ll continue to support you,” Sowore told the protesters.
“The people holding your destinies in their hands must know that Nigerians will no longer keep praying while they suffer. One day, people will stop praying and take action.”
The activist also slammed the political class for living in luxury while retired officers and other civil servants are left to suffer. He urged unity among all retirees across security and civil services, insisting the struggle transcends the police.
“Everyone should be here — from Customs, Immigration, Civil Defence, DSS, and even the civil service — because they all face the same injustice,” he added.
“I’m not fighting for the police; I’m fighting with retired police officers. You started this movement, and others must follow.”
