Retired Police Officers in FCT, Taraba Protest Over Neglected Welfare

 Hundreds of retired police officers from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Taraba State staged protests on July 21, 2025, demanding improved welfare amid chronic delays in pension payments and inadequate healthcare. 

In Abuja, over 300 retirees gathered at the Force Headquarters, waving placards reading “Pay Our Pensions” and “We Served, Don’t Abandon Us,” while in Jalingo, 150 joined the outcry outside the state police command. The demonstrators highlighted that many have not received pensions for over 12 months, with some owed gratuities since 2022, a situation worsened by inflation at 33% and a 40% rise in medical costs.

The Police Service Commission (PSC) acknowledged the backlog, attributing it to funding shortages and bureaucratic inefficiencies, with ₦15 billion allocated but only ₦8 billion disbursed in 2025. Protesters, including 70-year-old ex-Inspector Musa Ibrahim, reported cases of colleagues dying due to untreated ailments, fueling anger. 

The Nigeria Police Force promised a meeting with the Ministry of Finance by July 25 to address the crisis, but skepticism persists, with the Retired Police Officers Association threatening a nationwide strike if unmet. Analysts suggest systemic corruption may be diverting funds, a claim the government denies, though transparency advocates call for an audit amid rising public discontent.