Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) and a prominent human rights activist, led a significant protest in Abuja today, alongside hundreds of retired and serving police officers.
The demonstration, dubbed the “mother of all peaceful protests,” aimed to address the dire welfare conditions of Nigeria’s police force, demanding improved salaries for active officers and better pension schemes for retirees.
The protesters, including members of the Nigerian Union of Retired Police Officers, gathered at the National Assembly complex before moving to the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters.
Their primary demand was the immediate removal of retired officers from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), which they described as “discriminatory” and insufficient to meet their needs.
“We just want to be removed from the Contributory Pension Scheme and have all our savings refunded,” said Mannir M. Lawal, Chairman of the union, in an interview with Daily Post Nigeria.
He emphasized that representatives from all 36 states were present, highlighting the nationwide scale of the grievance.Sowore, a vocal advocate for police reform, criticized the federal government and police leadership for neglecting the welfare of officers.
In a post on his X account, he stated, “You humiliated them in service and in retirement. Now you’re scrambling, issuing statements, locking officers in barracks, trying to explain away decades of injustice.”
He has consistently argued that no police officer should earn less than ₦300,000 to ₦500,000 monthly, pointing out that the current average salary for a constable, between ₦43,000 and ₦55,000, is grossly inadequate given the risks they face.
Sowore also highlighted the plight of retirees, noting cases where officers received as little as ₦2 million in gratuity and ₦35,000 monthly pensions after 35 years of service.
The protest faced resistance from police authorities, with a leaked memo from Supol Asokoro, dated July 20, 2025, ordering officers to be confined to barracks to prevent participation.
Despite this, Sowore remained defiant, declaring, “There is no going back on the protest.”
The Nigeria Police Force, through spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi, expressed concern over the politicization of the issue, accusing “certain actors” of exploiting retirees’ grievances for ulterior motives.
The police leadership acknowledged the legitimacy of the pension concerns but noted that exiting the CPS requires statutory changes beyond the Inspector-General’s authority.
The National Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria (NARPON) distanced itself from Sowore’s protest, with its president, Paul Ochonu, advocating for dialogue over demonstrations.
However, NARPON echoed the call for better pensions, urging the government to approve ₦758 billion in outstanding pension liabilities pending at the National Assembly.
“The pension is a function of salary earned while in service. Low salaries mean low pensions,” Ochonu stated, pushing for increased employer contributions to the CPS and supplementary pension schemes.
The protest has reignited national conversations about police welfare, a recurring issue since the 2020 #EndSARS protests. Critics argue that the government’s slow implementation of reforms under the Police Act (2020) and the Police Trust Fund has left officers in dilapidated barracks, with delayed salaries and inadequate pensions.
Sowore’s campaign has also garnered support from serving officers, some of whom, he claims, are organizing discreetly despite arrests for discussing welfare issues in WhatsApp groups.
As the demonstration unfolded peacefully under police supervision, the Inspector-General, Kayode Egbetokun, pledged security for the protesters while warning against disruptions.
The outcome of this protest could shape the future of police reforms in Nigeria, with Sowore and the retirees vowing to continue their advocacy until their demands for economic justice and dignity are met.
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