"We've Become Gatemen Just to Eat": Retired Nigerian Policemen Protest in Abuja, Demand Payments, Reject PENCOM Scheme

Dozens of retired Nigerian police officers took to the streets of Abuja on Monday in a peaceful protest to demand the immediate payment of their long-overdue entitlements and removal from the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) scheme. The demonstrators, many of whom are elderly, decried what they described as years of neglect, with some saying they now work as gatekeepers and street food vendors just to survive.

The protest, tagged #PoliceProtest, drew scores of former officers and concerned activists carrying placards with strong messages such as:

"PENCOM is a killer disease worse than cancer"
"We reject the IGP's new pension scheme"
"We served, we bled, we deserve better pay"

The retired officers are demanding the full payment of outstanding allowances dating as far back as 2007, and a permanent exit from the PENCOM scheme, which they argue has failed to provide for their welfare after years of service.

"Military policemen in Lagos are now wearing civilian security uniforms and opening gates for people—just to eat," one of the protesting officers lamented./p>

"Let them remove us from PENCOM and pay us all our entitlements. Calculate our money—from inception till date—and give it to us. That's all we ask," another retiree said.

"The protesters were unified in their message, calling for their gratuities and arrears to be paid in full. Many accused the pension regulatory body of mismanaging their funds and leaving them in poverty, despite decades of dedicated service to the nation.

"We are not here for violence," one protester clarified. "We are not insulting anybody or fighting anyone. We are here peacefully to ask for our rights. Just remove us from PENCOM and give us what we're owed."

The retirees described the protest as a last resort, after years of writing letters, attending meetings, and receiving empty promises. They emphasized that their plight reflects a larger crisis facing many retired security personnel across the country.

The protest adds to a growing national conversation around the effectiveness of Nigeria's Contributory Pension Scheme, especially for uniformed personnel who often retire without financial stability.

As the protest drew attention in Abuja, calls are mounting for the federal government and relevant agencies to urgently address the welfare of retired police officers, many of whom say they feel forgotten by the system they once served.