Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, on Monday led a protest by retired police officers in Abuja, demanding their removal from the contributory pension scheme and calling for improved welfare for ex-service members.

The demonstration began at the Louis Edet Police Force Headquarters and proceeded to the National Assembly, despite warnings from the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC).

Protesters described the current pension scheme as discriminatory and detrimental to the well-being of retired officers.

The protest was reportedly triggered by a viral video featuring a retired Superintendent of Police who lamented receiving only ₦3 million after 35 years of service. The incident ignited widespread outrage and renewed calls for the establishment of a dedicated police pension board, separate from the contributory scheme.

Chanting slogans such as “Pay Police a Living Wage” and “Dignity for Those in Uniform,” the protesters carried placards bearing messages like “Decent Salaries Now,” “End Police Slavery,” and “Pensions for Police Officers.”

Though denied access to the Force Headquarters, the demonstrators, many of them retired police personnel, were accompanied by police escorts as they marched to the National Assembly complex to present their demands.

Sowore, addressing journalists during the protest, emphasized the need to prioritize the welfare of officers who had dedicated their lives to national service, urging lawmakers to take immediate action.