Sowore, Adeyanju, Dan Bello at Abuja #PoliceProtest, Demand ₦500,000 Monthly Salary, Pension Reform For Police.

Sowore, Adeyanju, Dan Bello Lead #PoliceProtest in Abuja, Demand N500,000 Monthly Salary and Pension Reform.

Human rights activist and #RevolutionNow convener, Omoyele Sowore, alongside political commentator Deji Adeyanju and activist Dan Bello, led a protest in Abuja on Monday to demand improved welfare for both serving and retired police officers in Nigeria.

The protest, tagged #PoliceProtest, drew retired police officers who decried their dire welfare conditions. They insisted that after dedicating up to 35 years in service to the country, they deserve better pay and dignified post-retirement living standards.

One major demand is the immediate withdrawal of the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme, which the protesters say has led to economic hardship, financial embarrassment, depression, and increased mortality among retired officers.

The retirees specifically criticised a new pension arrangement under the leadership of Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, calling it fraudulent and contrary to the interests of retired personnel.

Chanting slogans such as "Pay Police Now!", protesters marched to the Force Headquarters demanding an overhaul of the pension system. They called for:

Abolition of the Contributory Pension Scheme.

Introduction of a new minimum monthly salary of N500,000 for serving officers.

Placards carried by demonstrators read:

"#PayPolice"

"PenCom is a killer disease worse than cancer"

"No Nigeria Police officer should earn less than N500,000 a month"

"We serve, we bleed, we deserve better pay"

"We reject the IGP's new pension scheme"

"Enough is enough—treat us with respect"

Defying heavy police presence, demonstrators marched to the gates of the National Assembly. Among their demands was the removal of Inspector General Kayode Egbetokun. Addressing the crowd, Sowore described the protest as a show of solidarity with rank-and-file officers suffering from poor remuneration and inhumane policies. "We are here on behalf of policemen who are suffering," Sowore declared. "Our concern is the well-being of these men—how they get their entitlements, whether they are serving, retired, or deceased. Their families are owed, and we are demanding justice."

Sowore advocated comprehensive insurance for all officers and asserted that no police officer in Nigeria should earn less than N500,000 per month. "You can't ask police to guard banks while bank managers earn far more than the officers protecting them," he said. "N500,000 is just about $300 monthly—which is still modest." He contrasted this with the alleged N30 million monthly take-home pay of senators, highlighting the vast inequality."Enough is enough! This is not about press statements. It's about the welfare of serving and retired police officers and their families," he said.

He condemned the meagre pensions, saying some retirees go home with as little as N900,000 after 35 years of service. "Are they supposed to buy recharge cards with that?" he asked. Responding to critics who questioned why activists would support a force with a history of abuse, Sowore said, "The police are bad because Nigeria is bad. You can't find good police in a bad system. The leaders are worse. We must fight for them because if we don't, we're ignoring a core issue."

He encouraged police retirees to speak out boldly, noting that many serving officers silently supported the protest. The protest adds to the growing call for police reform, especially since the 2020 #EndSARS movement, which spotlighted police brutality and neglect.

Despite promises of reform and a salary increase announced in 2021, implementation has been inconsistent. As Nigeria grapples with inflation and a worsening cost of living, the plight of police officers—both serving and retired—remains a pressing national issue.