Protest rocks Abuja
Hundreds of retired officers of the Nigeria Police Force on Monday staged a protest at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, blocking one of the main gates of Aso Rock Presidential Villa.
They are demanding action from Bola Tinubu over a pending pension bill.
The demonstration, which drew elderly officers and some of their family members, was organised by the Police Retired Officers Forum of Nigeria. The group said years of poor welfare and hardship pushed them to take their grievances directly to the seat of power.
The protest comes months after the National Assembly passed a bill on December 4, 2025, seeking to remove police personnel from the Contributory Pension Scheme. The proposed law was later sent to the Presidency on March 16, 2026, but it has not yet been signed, a delay that has angered many retired officers.
Early in the day, the protesters gathered at the Villa entrance, singing and carrying placards with messages calling for immediate approval of the bill. Their action caused tension around the area as they blocked movement through one of the gates.
Security personnel, including police officers and operatives of the Department of State Services, were deployed to the scene. They prevented the protesters from entering the premises and tried to disperse them, but the retirees refused to leave.
The demonstrators insisted they would remain at the gate until the President comes out to address them directly. Many of them spoke about the difficult conditions they face after retirement, saying their monthly pensions are too small to meet basic needs.
Some of the retirees said they spent over three decades serving the country but now struggle to survive. They complained that the current pension system leaves them with little support, affecting their ability to care for themselves and their families.
The crowd continued to call on the President to approve the bill, maintaining that only his intervention can resolve their situation. Despite repeated appeals from security officials, they held their ground and kept up their protest at the entrance.
The Contributory Pension Scheme, managed by the National Pension Commission, has remained a major source of concern for many retired police officers, who argue that it does not reflect the nature of their service.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from the Presidency on the protest or on when the bill may be signed into law.
