Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 elections, Omoyele Sowore, on Monday joined retired police officers and civil rights activists in a protest in Abuja, demanding improved welfare for personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.
The demonstration, which began at the National Assembly complex, was organized by the Nigerian Union of Retired Police Officers. Protesters marched to the Force Headquarters to call for the immediate removal of retired officers from the Contributory Pension Scheme, which they described as “discriminatory and inhumane.”
According to the retirees, many of their members have died while awaiting fair pension payments, accusing the current system of neglect and financial hardship.
Despite warnings from the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), the protest went ahead. The PCRC had urged the retirees to return to the negotiation table, claiming the demonstration was a politically motivated attempt to discredit the Inspector-General of Police and the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
However, the retirees insisted that years of unfulfilled promises and systemic neglect left them with no choice but to take to the streets. Sowore, a long-time activist, described the protest as a fight for justice and dignity for those who served the nation.
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