Retired Police Officers Give FG October 15 Deadline, Threaten Abuja Protest Over Pensions

Retired police officers under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) have given the Federal Government, the National Pension Commission (PenCom) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) until October 15, 2026, to fulfil agreements on gratuity payments and pension increases.

The retirees warned that they would stage a peaceful mass protest in Abuja on November 2 if the authorities failed to meet the deadline. They also demanded their withdrawal from what they described as an “obnoxious pension scheme”.

The National Coordinator of the association and Chairman of its Kaduna State chapter, retired Captain Mannir M. Lawal, disclosed the ultimatum in a statement issued in Kaduna on Monday.

The association expressed concern over the failure of the authorities to implement commitments reportedly reached during negotiations with representatives of the retired officers.

According to the retirees, the authorities had given assurances that the agreed measures would be implemented by the end of September 2026. However, they said the deadline passed without the commitments being fulfilled.

The association stated that the Director-General of PenCom had assured the retirees of a gratuity payment equivalent to 300 per cent of their annual emoluments, alongside an increase in monthly pensions to 100 per cent of the applicable salary benchmark.

The retirees said the delay had weakened confidence in the negotiation process and increased concerns about the financial welfare of former police personnel.

“We had devoted our productive years to protecting lives and property, maintaining law and order, and safeguarding national security. Our patience and commitment to dialogue should not be mistaken for weakness,” the officers said.

They called on the Federal Government, PenCom and the IGP to take concrete and verifiable steps to honour the reported agreements and provide a clear timeline for implementation.

The association maintained that the planned demonstration would be peaceful, lawful and orderly, describing it as a last resort after efforts to resolve the dispute through dialogue.

It also urged affected retired police officers across the country to remain united and prepare to join the protest if the authorities failed to meet the October 15 deadline.

With the deadline approaching, the dispute places renewed attention on the retirees’ demands over gratuities, monthly pension payments and the continued operation of the Contributory Pension Scheme for retired police officers.