The protesters, who carried placards with various inscriptions, marched to the Police Headquarters, Owerri, where they were received by the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Aboki Danjuma.
Speaking on behalf of the group, the Chairman of the association, Retired Superintendent of Police (SP) Amanze Nwakwue, described the contributory pension scheme as “deadly and obnoxious,” alleging that it had caused hardship and death among retirees.
Nwakwue urged the Federal Government to establish a Police Pension Board, similar to that of the military, to cater to the welfare of all retired police officers. He also called for the inclusion of police retirees in the debarment allowancealready enjoyed by their military counterparts.
He questioned the fairness of the system, noting that while senior officers such as AIGs, DIGs, and IGPs had exited the scheme, ranks from Commissioner of Police downwards were still under the CPS.
“If the CPS is that good, why did the police generals exit and leave the rest of us in it? We demand total withdrawal from this killer pension system and the scrapping of NPF Pensions Limited,” he stated.
The chairman also demanded that the ₦758.9 billion bond for pension liabilities be paid directly into retirees’ accounts, not through Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs). He urged President Bola Tinubu to sign an Executive Order for their exit from the CPS, similar to what had been done for the military, DSS, NIA, and National Assembly staff.
In response, Commissioner of Police Aboki Danjuma appealed for calm, assuring the retirees that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Olukayode Egbetokun, was aware of their concerns and working on improved welfare for retired officers.
“You are our fathers and teachers. The IGP is determined to improve the welfare packages of all police retirees,” Danjuma said, adding that their protest letter would be forwarded to the IGP for further action.
During the protest, retirees carried placards with messages such as “Police retirees under CPS are dying in droves,” “Exit is our stand,” and “President Tinubu, please come to our aid.”
