IMO RETIRED POLICE OFFICERS PROTEST, SEEK REMOVAL FROM CONTRIBUTORY PENSION SCHEME.

By Prince Uwalaka Chimaroke
15- OCT- 2025

A coalition of retired police personnel in Imo State has appealed to the Federal Government to withdraw them from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), describing the arrangement as unjust and detrimental to their post-service welfare.

The retirees, under the banner of the Police Senior Citizens Forum, staged a peaceful protest on Tuesday at both the Imo State Police Command headquarters and the Government House in Owerri. They bore placards with inscriptions such as “Exit Police from Contributory Pension Now!” and “We Stand with the Police Pension Board—No to CPS!” while chanting solidarity songs to express their grievances.

Addressing the gathering, the forum’s chairman, Prince Amanze, urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to authorize the exit of the Nigeria Police Force from the CPS and approve the proposed ₦758.9 billion bond meant to offset pending pension liabilities. He lamented that the scheme had subjected police retirees to hardship despite years of selfless service to the nation.

According to Amanze, the Nigeria Police currently operates multiple pension structures, covering different ranks from the Inspector-General down to the Assistant Inspectors-General, creating confusion and inequality among retirees. “We have been marginalized for far too long. The system does not reflect the sacrifices we made in safeguarding the nation,” he stated.

Responding to the demonstrators, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, acknowledged their complaints and assured them that their demands would be communicated to the appropriate authorities for prompt review.

At the Government House, the Chief Security Officer to Governor Hope Uzodimma, Mr. Adamu Gboyako, commended the retirees for maintaining peace during the protest and assured them that discussions were already underway between the state government and their leadership to explore sustainable ways of improving their welfare.

The Contributory Pension Scheme, established under the 2004 Pension Reform Act, mandates both employers and employees to make joint contributions toward individual retirement savings. However, police retirees argue that the system leaves them financially disadvantaged compared to their counterparts still benefiting from the old defined benefit pension arrangement.