TD The Police Retired Officers Forum of Nigeria has stated that its indefinite nationwide peaceful protest against the Contributory Pension Scheme will begin on September 29, 2026, as planned.
The retirees have renewed demands for the exclusion of police personnel from the Contributory Pension Scheme.
The Police Retired Officers Forum of Nigeria (PROF) had earlier announced plans to embark on an indefinite nationwide protest in a letter dated September 21, 2026.
The bone of contention is the continued inclusion of the Nigeria Police Force in the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
The letter was addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and code-named “No Retreat; No Surrender,” would commence on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, and continue until further notice.
The forum said the decision followed the failure of the Presidency to assent to the Police Exit Bill, which seeks to exempt police personnel from the CPS.
Pension protest follows earlier suspension
The letter was signed by PROF National Coordinator, CSP Raphael I. Irowainu (Rtd.), and National Secretary, Dr Enyi Nnaemezie Ignatius.
According to the letter, the forum had earlier suspended its protest on August 10 following an assurance from Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu.
The retirees said Disu gave the assurance during a meeting with the forum’s leadership at Force Headquarters in Abuja on August 6.
He promisesd that the pension issue would be resolved within two weeks following further consultations with President Tinubu.
The forum, however, said it had yet to receive the expected feedback.
It also stated that the Police Exit Bill was transmitted to the Presidency by the National Assembly on March 16, 2026.
The history of the legislation and the retirees’ demand has been reported previously.
In April, retired police officers protested at the Presidential Villa.
They called on President Tinubu to assent to the bill after it was passed by the National Assembly in December 2025.
13 locations listed for protest
PROF said the planned demonstrations would take place at government institutions and diplomatic missions across Abuja, as well as governors’ offices nationwide.
The locations listed include:
- Police Force Headquarters, Abuja
- National Assembly Complex
- National Pension Commission (PenCom) headquarters
- Ministry of Police Affairs
- Federal Ministry of Justice
- Federal Ministry of Finance
- United Nations Office, Abuja
- United States Embassy
- Embassy of France
- British High Commission
- Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport
- Police Service Commission headquarters
- Offices of the 36 state governors
The forum said the action would remain peaceful.
Retirees demand same treatment as other security agencies
The retirees argued that police personnel should be removed from the CPS and placed under a pension arrangement comparable to that applicable to other security agencies.
They specifically cited the military, State Security Service (SSS) and National Intelligence Agency (NIA), among others.
The forum described the existing arrangement as inadequate and alleged that many retired police officers were struggling with low lump-sum payments and monthly pensions.
It claimed that more than 20 police retirees had died in the preceding six months.
Meanwhile, many others were bedridden because they could not meet their medical and basic living expenses.
The forum also claimed that more than 40 serving police officers had died in the line of duty during the same period.
It argued that the welfare challenges affecting personnel could have implications for morale.
Those casualty figures are claims contained in the forum’s September 21 letter and have not been independently verified in the sources reviewed for this report.
Long-running pension dispute
The planned September protest is part of a prolonged campaign by retired police officers over the CPS.
In April 2026, members of PROF and their families blocked a gate of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
During the demonstration, they demanded presidential assent to the Police Exit Bill.
The retirees said the bill had been passed by the National Assembly on December 4, 2025, and transmitted to the Presidency on March 16, 2026.
In June, the forum again appealed to President Tinubu to sign the legislation.
Its national coordinator said that the proposed law would exempt police personnel from the CPS.
The forum’s latest action, therefore, places renewed pressure on the Presidency and the National Assembly.
It also pressures PenCom and other government institutions involved in police welfare and pension administration.
PROF said its demand for presidential assent to the Police Exit Bill was not negotiable.
They appealed to President Tinubu to act in the interest of retired officers, serving personnel and national security.
This Dawn News will continue to monitor developments surrounding the planned September 29 protest and the status of the Police Exit Bill.
