Human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju, on Monday stood in solidarity with retired police officers protesting in Abuja, calling out the government over what he described as the “shameful treatment” of those who once put their lives on the line to protect Nigerians.
Addressing journalists at the protest venue, Adeyanju decried the harsh realities facing officers both in active service and in retirement. He described police barracks across the country as “unfit for human living,” and lamented the meagre pensions given to retired officers after years of sacrificial service.
“It is a national disgrace that men who gave their youthful years to secure this country are sent into retirement with peanuts while politicians at the National Assembly many of whom contribute nothing meaningful earn millions monthly, depending on the ‘juicy’ committees they belong to,” Adeyanju said.
He accused the government of double standards, noting that while top military generals are exempt from the Contributory Pension Scheme, police personnel are left at the mercy of a system that offers no protection or dignity in retirement.
Adeyanju called on the Federal Government to urgently revisit the pension structure for the Nigeria Police Force, describing the current system as “exploitative and inhumane.”
“These retired officers are not asking for luxury they are asking for fairness, for dignity, and for recognition of their service. That this government cannot guarantee even that, yet wastes billions on political office holders, is a betrayal of everything justice stands for,” he added.
The protest, though peaceful, drew strong emotions as the former officers chanted songs and held placards demanding justice and immediate exit from the contributory pension scheme.