Five killed in fresh Benue attack

Retired police officers warn President Tinubu over pension bill, threaten protest

Retired police officers and their families in Abuja have warned President Bola Tinubu that he risks losing their votes across all 36 states if he fails to sign the Police Exit Bill. This bill aims to remove the police force from the Contributory Pension Scheme. The warning was issued during a protest at Gate 8 of the Presidential Villa, where demonstrators gathered from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm local time. CSP Raphael Irowainu retd., National Coordinator of the Police Retired Officers Forum of Nigeria, led the protest, stating that millions of retirees nationwide would use their votes judiciously in future elections. He emphasized the urgency for President Tinubu to sign the bill, highlighting that other major security agencies like the military, SSS, Air Force, Navy, and National Intelligence Agency have already been exited from the scheme, leaving the police trapped. Protesters carried placards with messages such as “End CPS” and “If military, DSS were removed from PENCOM, why not police?”, while chanting “Police dey work, PenCom dey chop.” The Police Retired Officers Forum described the Contributory Pension Scheme as “fraudulent, illegal, inhumane and obnoxious” and called for immediate presidential assent to the Police Exit Bill. The bill was passed by the National Assembly on December 4, 2025, and transmitted to the Presidency on March 16, 2026, where it awaits the President’s signature. The bill, sponsored by House Leader Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, seeks to establish a Nigerian