Wives of retired Nigerian police officers on Tuesday joined their husbands in a protest at the National Assembly, Abuja, decrying what they described as years of neglect and poor welfare for families of police personnel, both serving and retired.
The women, alongside widows of fallen officers, lamented that during their husbands’ years of active service, many were sent on dangerous assignments without basic protective gear such as bulletproof vests often becoming the first victims in violent encounters.
Speaking during the demonstration, one of the protesters said many widows of officers who died in the line of duty had been left destitute, with several still awaiting their late husbands’ gratuities.
“We are ready, and we are telling the National Assembly now — remove retired policemen from the contributory pension scheme with immediate effect. It is our right. The suffering is too much. Our children are suffering,” she said.
“When our husbands were serving, they had no bulletproof vests or protective gear. They were the first to be shot during operations. And the widows whose husbands died have not been paid their gratuities. Before they even call us for payment, some officials demand sexual favours. That is wickedness. Enough is enough.”
The protesters accused the Nigeria Police Force and relevant government agencies of indifference toward their plight, calling for a total overhaul of the current pension arrangement.
They insisted that the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) under which police officers are currently placed — has been “fraudulent and exploitative,” denying retirees fair compensation after decades of meritorious service.
Earlier in the day, human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore joined the demonstration, expressing solidarity with the protesting retirees and their spouses.
Sowore described the CPS as a “wicked system” that strips retirees of their dignity, calling on the government to immediately restore the Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS) for police officers and other security personnel.
“I’m not just fighting for the police; I’m fighting with retired policemen,” Sowore said.
“The people holding your destinies must know that Nigerians will no longer keep praying while they suffer. One day, prayers will stop, and people will take action. Those in power live in luxury while those who served this country faithfully die in poverty — it’s unacceptable.”
The activist urged unity among all retirees and workers across the security and civil service sectors, emphasising that the fight for pension reform was a collective one.
“This struggle is not just about the police. It’s about justice for every Nigerian worker who has been cheated under the contributory pension scheme. If those in power refuse to listen, the people will rise,” he said.
The protest, which was peaceful, drew the attention of lawmakers and security operatives at the National Assembly Complex, with many onlookers expressing sympathy for the ageing officers and their families.
The Nigerian government has yet to issue an official response to the demands as of press time.
