Retired police officers on Monday, November 2, staged a protest at the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) in Abuja, accusing the Federal Government of abandoning them despite years of service and sacrifices in protecting the country.
The protesters lamented that after risking their lives to combat insecurity and safeguard Nigerians, they had been left to battle hunger, financial hardship and what they described as an unjust pension arrangement.
Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the retired officers called on President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and PENCOM to urgently address their grievances and ensure the payment of their outstanding entitlements.
Some of the placards read, “We gave our youthful age to serve our fatherland, but those we served are denying us our benefits,” “Is it a crime to serve Nigeria as a policeman?” and “When we escaped the bandits’ killings, PENCOM is now killing us.”
They also accused the authorities of making repeated promises without taking concrete steps to resolve their pension-related challenges.
One of the protesters’ messages urged President Tinubu to sign the Police Exit Bill, which they claimed had remained pending since March 2026.
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Reacting to the protest, former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, condemned the treatment of the retired officers, describing their situation as disgraceful.
In a statement issued by his campaign’s Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku accused the Tinubu administration of adopting a “use and discard” approach towards security personnel who risked their lives in the service of the country.
He argued that a government capable of deploying police officers to protect public officials should also guarantee their welfare and financial security after retirement.
Atiku further criticised the President over the alleged delay in assenting to the Police Exit Bill, promising that his proposed Police Dignity Guarantee Plan would prioritise the welfare of serving and retired officers.
He also pledged to implement the Police Pension Board Bill within 30 days of assuming office if elected, alongside restoring gratuity payments for police personnel.
The retired officers are demanding urgent government intervention, the settlement of outstanding benefits and reforms to ensure that former members of the Nigeria Police Force can enjoy a dignified retirement after years of service.
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