In Benin, Edo State, retired police officers joined a nationwide protest on Monday, condemning the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) as a “killer policy” that has left them in poverty and distress.
Under the National Association of Retired Police Officers Contributory Pension Scheme (NARPO-CPS), the retirees held a press conference to highlight their struggles and urge immediate action from President Bola Tinubu.
SP Anthony Nnachor (rtd), the state chairman, spoke on behalf of the group, describing the dire situation faced by retirees, including former Commissioners of Police, who receive as little as N25,000 to N30,000 monthly.
“Many of us who served this nation for over 30 years cannot afford food or healthcare. Our colleagues are dying daily due to this hardship,” Nnachor said.
He criticized the CPS, introduced in 2004, for providing only 25% of retirees’ contributions as a lump sum, with the remainder paid in meager monthly installments.
The protesters demanded an immediate exit from the CPS, which they labeled exploitative, and a transition to the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) currently applied to retired military personnel.
Mr. Johnson Oyameda, the association’s Publicity Secretary, called the pension arrangement fraudulent and urged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to facilitate their exit.
He also appealed to the National Assembly to expedite a bill removing retired police officers from the CPS, noting delays despite public hearings since 2019.
The retirees vowed to continue their advocacy until the government addresses their plight and ensures a dignified retirement for those who served the nation.
