Sowore leads retired police officers’ protest in Abuja over pension scheme

Human rights activist and 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, on Monday, July 21, led a protest by retired police officers in Abuja, demanding improved welfare and total removal from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

Despite the heavy rain, members of the Nigerian Union of Retired Police Officers marched to the National Assembly complex before proceeding to the Force Headquarters.

The protesters, mostly elderly, held placards and chanted anti-government songs as they decried what they described as a “discriminatory” pension scheme.

The retired officers argued that their current monthly pensions were insufficient to meet their basic needs, calling for immediate exemption of the Nigeria Police Force from the CPS.

Sowore, who has been amplifying the protest under the hashtag #PoliceProtest on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, stood in solidarity with the demonstrators during the protest.

In anticipation of the protest, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Sunday, July 20, directed commissioners of police to provide protection for the protesters to ensure the demonstration remained peaceful.

The directive was conveyed in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi.