In a bold display of solidarity and defiance, prominent activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, on Monday led a peaceful but powerful protest of retired Nigerian police officers to the Force Headquarters and later to the National Assembly, demanding urgent payment of long-withheld pensions and gratuities.
The retirees, many of whom dedicated decades of service to the country’s security, have been battling neglect, non-payment, and broken promises. They arrived in Abuja from different states, visibly frustrated and armed with placards bearing messages like “No Pension, No Peace,” and “We Protected You, Now Protect Our Future.”
Sowore, who marched alongside the former officers, did not mince words as he addressed journalists and onlookers outside the Force Headquarters:
“These are men who wore the uniform, risked their lives, and kept this nation safe. Now they’ve been abandoned, forgotten, and denied what they rightfully earned. We won’t keep quiet while our elders suffer in silence.”
The protestors’ first stop was the Force Headquarters, where they demanded a direct audience with the Inspector General of Police. Though top-ranking officers received them with assurances of ongoing discussions, the group insisted on timelines and full transparency in the disbursement of owed pensions.
From there, the march moved to the National Assembly, where lawmakers were confronted with raw emotion and painful testimonies. Some retirees wept as they recounted years of unpaid benefits, inability to pay medical bills, and the deaths of colleagues who never received a kobo after retirement.
A petition was formally submitted, calling for an emergency probe into pension administration for retired police officers and immediate budgetary allocation for pending arrears.
Speaking at the National Assembly gate, Sowore issued a sharp warning: “This is just the beginning. If those in power think this protest ends today, they’re mistaken. We will return – louder, stronger, and with more Nigerians – until justice is served.”
The protest has ignited fresh national debate on the treatment of retired civil servants, especially security personnel, and shines a harsh light on decades-old pension irregularities.