“We’re fighting for our rights” – Retired police officers tell serving colleagues during protest

Retired officers of the Nigeria Police Force on Monday, April 13, took to the streets of Abuja, the nation’s capital city to protest the delayed payment of their pension and benefits by the Federal Government.

The officers, operating under the aegis of the Association of Retired Police Officers marched to the Presidential Villa, to demand their exit from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

According to the retirees, they have suffered for several years of impoverishment under the CPS after decades of selfless service to the country.

Their protest has continued over the years with the National Assembly recently transmitting the Bill seeking the exit of the police from the controversial scheme.

However, during the protest, their serving colleagues made efforts to prevent them from continuing with their march to the Presidential Villa.

This effort by serving police officers was defied by the retirees who in their numbers continued to chant, “We no gree, we no go gree, wuru wuru pension we no go gree”.

Speaking on the importance of the protest, the retirees said, “We are f!ght!ng for our rights, and you say you will deal with people? You cannot intimidate us.”

“We have served the Nigeria Police for 35 years, with pain and suffering.

“Now that we are retired, we are supposed to go home and enjoy the fruits of our labour, but the police and the government have decided that we should continue to suffer and die in suffering. We said Enough is enough,” the retirees told the serving police officers.

The Police in Nigeria are always known for preventing protesters from carrying out their civic rights in accordance with the provisions of the law.

In most cases across the country, protesters are either shot at or fired with tear gas canisters and arrested during the protests.

This action by the police have constantly been condemned by Nigerians, lawyers, human rights activists and even civil society organisations who have also taken legal actions against the Force in some cases.