By Fatima Mukhtar
Tension erupted in Abuja as a retired police officer reportedly collapsed during a protest by pensioners demanding the payment of their long-overdue entitlements from the Federal Government.
The incident occurred when hundreds of retired police officers under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) gathered at the National Assembly complex, calling for the government’s intervention over what they described as years of neglect and inhumane treatment.
Eyewitnesses said the retired officer, whose identity was yet to be disclosed at press time, slumped while chanting solidarity songs alongside his colleagues. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital by fellow retirees and security personnel stationed at the protest venue.
The protesters, drawn from various state commands across Nigeria, carried placards with inscriptions such as “We Served Nigeria, Not PenCom”, “Pay Our Gratuities”, and “Remove Police from the Contributory Pension Scheme.”
They accused the National Pension Commission (PenCom) of withholding their benefits and lamented that many retired officers now live in poverty, with some receiving as little as ₦30,000 to ₦40,000 monthly after over 30 years of active service.
Speaking to reporters, the National Chairman of the Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria (ARPON), Mr. Adebayo Saliu, said the incident underscores the level of hardship facing thousands of retired officers across the country.
“Our colleague who collapsed today is a reflection of our suffering. Many of us can’t afford medical care, and several have died waiting for their gratuities. We are pleading with President Bola Tinubu to remove the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme and restore our dignity,” he said.
The retirees also called on the National Assembly to approve the proposed ₦758 billion pension arrears, which they claim would cover unpaid gratuities and outstanding benefits for retired officers.
Officials from the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters and representatives of the National Assembly Committees on Police Affairs were said to have met with the protesters, promising to look into their demands and report to the appropriate authorities.
As of press time, the condition of the collapsed officer was said to be stable, but the protest highlights the growing frustration among retired police personnel over unpaid pensions and the inadequacies of the current pension system.
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