Retired Police Officers Issue Ultimatum to President Tinubu Over Police Exit Bill
More than 30,000 retired police officers in Nigeria have issued a stern ultimatum to President Bola Tinubu, demanding that he assent to the Police Exit Bill before June 22, 2026. Failure to do so, they warn, will trigger renewed nationwide protests. The retired officers argue that improved welfare for both serving and retired personnel is not merely a labor issue but a critical component of strengthening the country's internal security architecture.
Background of the Police Exit Bill
The legislation, which seeks to exempt the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), was passed by the National Assembly in December 2025 and transmitted to the President in March 2026. Speaking at a press briefing yesterday in Akure, the state capital, the national coordinator of the Police Retired Officers Forum of Nigeria (PROF), CSP Raphael Irowainu (rtd), described the bill as a national security intervention rather than a routine welfare package.
Key Demands of the Retired Officers
According to Irowainu, the forum's demands include the total withdrawal of the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme, migration to a defined benefit pension scheme, establishment of a Police Pension Board, and payment of all accrued pension rights and arrears owed to retirees. The group expressed confidence that Tinubu would approve the bill, noting that similar security agencies, including the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), already operate outside the CPS framework.
