… Threaten Protest

By Dayo Johnson, Akure

The Police Retired Officers Forum of Nigeria (PROF) has urged President Bola Tinubu to assent to the Police exit bill recently passed by the National Assembly, warning that failure to do so before June 22, 2026, could trigger a nationwide peaceful protest.

Speaking to journalists in Akure, the forum’s National Coordinator, CSP Raphael Irowainu, said the proposed legislation would remove police personnel from what he described as the “inhumane” Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

He said the bill represents not only a welfare reform but also a national security investment capable of improving policing effectiveness across the country.

“This bill is not merely a welfare reform; it is a strategic national security investment whose benefits will be felt across every community, state and sector of the Nigerian Federation,” he said.

The forum is demanding the total withdrawal of the Nigeria Police Force from the CPS, migration to a Defined Benefit Pension Scheme, establishment of a Police Pension Board, and payment of all accrued pension rights and arrears.

Irowainu insisted that the position of retired officers remains “unchanged, unwavering and non-negotiable,” stressing the need for full exit from PENCOM.

He argued that the welfare of officers directly affects morale, discipline and operational efficiency, adding that no officer can serve effectively without assurance of post-retirement security.

The retirees also called for parity with other security agencies such as the Armed Forces, DSS, NIA and EFCC, which operate outside the CPS framework.

“Granting the Nigeria Police Force similar consideration will restore institutional parity and reinforce the message that Nigeria values those who protect her citizens daily,” he said.

According to him, President Tinubu’s assent to the bill would secure his legacy in security sector reform, recalling his past focus on police welfare during his tenure as Lagos State governor.

The forum also criticised what it described as poor pension benefits currently paid to retired police officers, saying many retirees are facing hardship after years of service.

“The Nigeria Police Force cannot continue to protect the nation while the nation fails to protect them in retirement,” he added.

Irowainu also distanced the forum from a five-man committee allegedly negotiating with the National Pension Commission (PENCOM), insisting that no group had been authorised to alter their demand for a full exit from the CPS.

He said consultations across the six geopolitical zones had reaffirmed a unified position among retired officers, warning against any compromise on their demands.