Rain or Shine: Retired Police Officers Brave Downpour to Protest at National Assembly

In a poignant display of determination, a group of retired Police offyicers braved the rain on Monday to stage a protest at the National Assembly gate in Abuja. The protesters, comprising elderly ex-police personnel, demanded their removal from the Contributory Pension Scheme, which they described as exploitative and unjust.

The demonstrators, holding placards and chanting solidarity songs, stood firm in the rain, insisting that their welfare and dignity had been neglected for too long. A retired Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP Manir Lawal (retd.), spoke on behalf of the group, calling on the Government to exit Police Retirees from the Pension Scheme.

Lawal emphasized that the Pension Scheme has impoverished many retired Police Officers, who have served the country faithfully. “I am 67 years old. Many of us here are in our 60s and 70s. We have served this Country faithfully and deserve to retire in dignity. This scheme has impoverished us. It is our right to demand better,” he said.

Security operatives were deployed to monitor the protest and prevent any breakdown of law and order. Despite the rain, the retirees vowed not to leave until their concerns were addressed by the leadership of the National Assembly.

The protest highlights the determination and resolve of the retired Police Officers to have their voices heard and their demands met. As they stood in the rain, they reiterated their commitment to fight for their rights and dignity.