Hundreds of retired police officers, under the Police Retired Officers Forum of Nigeria (PROF), blocked a major gate to the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday, April 20, 2026, as they escalated protests over their pension grievances.
The demonstrators, accompanied by family members, occupied one of the main access points to Aso Rock, disrupting movement in and around the Villa. Many carried placards and chanted slogans while some laid mats on the ground, with others sitting or lying in place despite efforts by security personnel to disperse them.
The protest centres on the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), which the retirees have repeatedly described as fraudulent, illegal, inhumane, and unfair. They complain that the scheme leaves many with pensions too low to cover basic needs after decades of service.
The retirees are demanding that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu immediately signs the Police Exit Bill, passed by the National Assembly in December 2025 and transmitted to the Presidency in March 2026. The legislation seeks to remove the Nigeria Police Force from the CPS and establish a dedicated police pension board, similar to arrangements for the military and other security agencies already exempted from the scheme.
During the protest, some retirees expressed bitterness over what they called years of neglect. “After serving this country for decades, we are left with nothing,” one protester said. Chants of “Tinubu, sign our bill now” and “End CPS” rang out as the group vowed to sustain the action until their demands are met.
Security operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) and police were deployed to the scene to prevent any breach of the Villa. No official statement had been issued by the Presidency as of the time of filing.
The action highlights deepening frustration within Nigeria’s security sector over pension reforms and the gap between policy and the welfare of retired officers. Failure to resolve the issue could further affect morale among serving and retired personnel, analysts say.
The retirees remained at the gate as of late Monday afternoon, awaiting a government response.
