Retired police personnel under the Contributory Pension Scheme took to the streets on Monday, marching from the National Assembly and blocking the main entrance of the Force Headquarters in Abuja for several hours. They demanded that the police be removed from the scheme, which they claimed had plunged them into poverty.

Despite multiple appeals to disperse, the aged ex-officers insisted on staying until they met with the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

Speaking to the demonstrators, Egbetokun expressed compassion for their situation and said he did not oppose the idea of the police leaving the CPS if it would bring relief. However, he emphasized that the decision was beyond the authority of any single Inspector-General.

He mentioned that he had been discussing the welfare of retired police officers with top government officials, including the National Security Adviser, and warned the protesters not to allow themselves to be manipulated by external forces.

The protest in Abuja marked the climax of a series of coordinated demonstrations, with similar protests held by retirees in Edo and Kwara states, where the CPS was labelled “a killer scheme.”

In contrast, in Oyo State, activists from the Take-It-Back movement held a demonstration to show solidarity over poor police welfare, even though local retirees did not participate.

Leaders across the states pointed out that efforts to withdraw from the CPS began as far back as 2014, but the promised changes have yet to materialise.

In Abuja, on Monday, the retired officers assembled in large numbers and barricaded the Force Headquarters gate, disrupting entry and exit and vowing to stay until their concerns were addressed.

As tensions rose, Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory, Adewale Ajao, along with the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, came out to urge them to leave the entrance.

The protesters stood their ground and, after several hours, finally agreed to meet with Egbetokun.

CSP Manir Lawal (retd.), who led the protest, said their campaign to leave the CPS had been ongoing since 2014.

Lawal alleged that several former Inspectors-General had failed to accurately represent the interests of retired police personnel before lawmakers.

He also expressed disappointment that commitments made during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure to pull the police out of the CPS had not been honoured.

Lawal said, “Even when the National Assembly passed the bill, we heard that the then IGP wasn’t satisfied with the contents and wanted amendments. That stalled the process.”

He shared how retirees had suffered years of neglect and financial difficulty, with some even sleeping on the floor at the National Assembly to make their case heard.

He said, “I am speaking from the bottom of my heart, sir. Virtually, we have nothing at home. A retired CSP cannot even send his children to school. Our condition has deteriorated beyond repair.”

He also highlighted that some pension administrators had not paid pensions for months, pointing out that African Alliance owed some retirees over nine months of payments.

Lawal appealed to the police leadership to urgently and compassionately address their concerns.

He said, “Even our wives and children no longer respect us. We are becoming useless to society. Please forgive us if we’ve offended anyone. We are just pushing because we have been pushed to the wall.”

In Edo and Kwara states, members of the National Association of Retired Officers called on police authorities to take them out of the CPS.

During a protest in Benin, they later addressed journalists at the Nigeria Union of Journalists’ premises, accusing the scheme of being riddled with corruption.

SP Anthony Nnachor (retd.), while speaking to the press, said the CPS had been unfair to them, adding that many members had died due to the insufficient funds it provided.

He said, “We are here to let the whole world know the predicament we are passing through. We are on a peaceful mission. Everybody here with me would have served in the force for 35 years meritoriously.”

He continued, “It has become imperative for us to tell the world the problem we are going through. We are now living in abject poverty, and we can no longer meet our primary responsibility as parents.”

He added, “The majority of us are dying. What is the main reason? The police in 2004 established a Pension Act. The serving members of the scheme are supposed to contribute 7 per cent, while the federal government will contribute 8 per cent.”

He explained that retirement benefits were based on accumulated contributions, of which only 25 per cent would be given as a lump sum at retirement. He concluded by saying the Federal Government should completely remove them from the CPS.

He urged President Bola Tinubu to listen to their pleas and intervene by influencing relevant agencies opposing their withdrawal from the scheme.

Also speaking, SP Johnson Oyameda, the group’s publicity secretary, called for the scrapping of the Nigeria Police Force Pension, which he described as fraudulent.

He asked Egbetokun to assist in pushing forward the process to exit the contributory scheme.

In Ilorin, Kwara State, the Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria held a peaceful protest on Monday.

The demonstrators demanded to be removed from the CPS and asked for the creation of a separate police pension board to handle their pensions exclusively.

Carrying placards with various messages, the ex-police officers repeated their calls to be removed from the scheme.

Yakubu Jimoh, Chairman of ARPON’s Kwara chapter and a retired Chief Superintendent of Police, spoke at the Nigeria Union of Journalists’ Press Centre in Ilorin. He pleaded with President Tinubu to urgently address their situation.

Jimoh reiterated the call for the establishment of a police-managed pension board and complete removal from the contributory scheme.

He also urged the Federal Government and National Assembly to speed up the release of N758bn owed in pension shortfalls to security agencies. The payment was expected in June 2025 but has yet to be disbursed.

In a letter shared with the press, Jimoh stated, “Our exit being advocated should be outright removal from the scheme. Since the inception of the contributory pension scheme, it has been one problem or the other.”

He criticised officials from the National Pension Commission and Pension Fund Administrators, saying they do not report retirees’ harsh experiences to their superiors.

He said they had always opposed the contributory pension scheme, which he described as paying meagre gratuity and monthly pensions that are not enough to live on.

He added, “We are all witnesses to the lamentations of the retired police officers on social media. Imagine the Superintendent of Police being paid N2.4m as his gratuity after 35 years of meritorious service and a paltry N30,000 as monthly pension.”

Adekunle Iwalaiye, ARPON’s Legal Adviser and a retired Superintendent of Police, argued that retirees deserved a dignified pension rather than the small amount they currently receive.

Iwalaiye urged the government to respond to the retirees’ demands in light of their dedicated service to the nation over the decades.

In Ibadan, Oyo State, no retired police officers were seen at the protest organised by the Take-It-Back movement at the state police command in Eleyele.

Solomon Eniola, the group’s state coordinator, criticised the non-payment of pensions and the poor treatment of officers who had served the country faithfully.

He said, “I, therefore, called on the government to recognise the sacrifices made by police officers and ensure that their welfare is prioritised.”

IG vows action

Addressing the former officers at the Force Headquarters, Egbetokun acknowledged their plight, saying that poor pension conditions were also a concern for serving personnel.

He said, “We all feel concerned. We empathise with you because we are also going to retire. I have been engaging at the highest level to ensure that something is done to improve the condition of the poor pensioner.”

Egbetokun revealed he had just returned from a meeting with National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, where they also discussed retirees’ welfare.

He said, “Even right now, I was just coming from a meeting with the NSA. The subject matter is the poor pension of retired officers. There are things that we need to do to ensure that your suffering in retirement is alleviated.”

He noted that while he couldn’t disclose all efforts publicly, significant steps had already been taken.

He said, “But I just want to assure you that we empathise with you and we are not just folding our arms. We are doing a lot to ensure that something is done.”

On the request for the police to leave the CPS, Egbetokun reiterated his support for the move.

He said, “I am not opposed to your exit from the CPS. I’m not opposed to it. If exiting from CPS will solve the problem, I will go for it. But if it is difficult for us to exit CPS, what else can we do? We have been agitating for the past 11 years, and it has not worked.”

He stressed that the decision to exit was beyond the powers of the Inspector-General alone.

He said, “The agitation to exit the CPS has been on since 2014, 11 years ago. All previous IGs tried their best to exclude the police from the CPS. But exiting the CPS is beyond the power of any inspector general of police.”

He added, “There are a lot of things that are involved. But what we’re interested in is ensuring that our retired officers live a good life after serving the country for 35 years. That is what we want.”

He explained that even within the CPS, improvements could still be made to enhance retiree welfare.

He said, “Even while in the CPS, this is what I have said that people have misconstrued. They have misinterpreted it that it is not until you exit the CPS that you can earn a good pension. Even with the CPS, we can improve the operation of that CPS and ensure that you are happy in retirement.”

He concluded by saying, “There have been several efforts in the past to exit, and it’s not working. So, as IG, I started thinking that we have to start looking for alternative ways of addressing the challenges.”

He said, “It’s these alternative ways I’m working on that people are misinterpreting as I am opposing your exit from CPS.”

The Ogun State Government stated on Monday that it remains firm despite threats of legal action from individuals or groups opposing the Islamic burial rites conducted for Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the late paramount ruler of Ijebuland.

Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Sina Ogungbade (SAN), responded to the legal threat from the International Council for Ifa Religion, which intends to sue the government and the family over the disregard for traditional rites.

Ogungbade said pursuing legal action over the late Awujale’s religious burial would be pointless, although the law permits individuals to challenge government decisions through the judiciary.

Oba Adetona died on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the age of 91, and was buried on Monday, July 14, 2025, following Islamic practices.

The burial sparked controversy, with the ICIR and traditional leaders criticizing the authorities for allegedly neglecting traditional customs.

During a weekend press briefing in Ibadan, Oyo State, ICIR President, Dr Fayemi Fakayode, and the Council’s lawyer, Ifasola Opeodu, reportedly claimed that the burial violated both cultural practices and existing laws.

Fakayode cited Part 8, Section 55, Sub-section II of the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law, stating that traditional rites are mandated for royal burials in the state.

He disapproved of the exclusion of the Osugbo Confraternity, known as the traditional custodians of final rites, and commended them for not retaliating.

He emphasized that the burial was not just about a single king, but posed a larger threat to Yoruba cultural values, warning that bypassing customs erodes the people’s identity.

The council alleged that members of the late king’s family, along with government authorities and security forces, hindered the Osugbo from fulfilling their traditional responsibilities.

Opeodu described the burial procedure as undemocratic and a violation of the religious liberties of traditional worshippers.

According to the council, neglecting traditional burial protocols undermines the religious rights of those who practice indigenous faiths.

As a result, the ICIR pledged to seek legal remedies and reiterated its dedication to protecting Yoruba traditions in future royal burials.

Clarifying the government’s stance, Ogungbade (SAN) said, “If they want to sue, I will describe it as a welcome development.

He added that individuals or groups who believe the government acted wrongly should use legal channels to express their grievances and hold authorities accountable if justified.

He offered unsolicited legal advice, stating that the group’s position is based on a misunderstanding of the law and would likely result in an unsuccessful lawsuit.

Ogungbade questioned how a decision made by the Awujale and his family to follow religious burial rites could be interpreted as infringing on others’ religious rights.

He described the council’s claim as laughable and hoped they would reconsider or seek proper legal counsel. He concluded that if they go ahead with the case, the government is prepared to defend its position in court.

Chief Rasaki Osimodi, the Olowa Iberu and Chief Priest of Ijebu land, voiced dissatisfaction in an interview, accusing the government of colluding with the late monarch’s family.

He expressed disappointment that despite close ties with traditionalists during his lifetime, the late king chose an Islamic burial and failed to honor traditional obligations.

Osimodi claimed that the government backed the decision by signing an agreement with the Awujale, allowing the Islamic burial to proceed and preventing the Osugbo from taking the body, which he said would have happened otherwise.

He stated that although the late king’s children claimed he had no links with traditionalists, they knew he participated in traditional rites and left some duties unfulfilled.

He explained that the presence of heavily armed security personnel discouraged any opposition from traditionalists, who stepped aside to avoid conflict.

Efforts to get comments from the late Awujale’s family regarding the threatened lawsuit were unsuccessful, but a senior palace official who preferred to remain anonymous described the controversy as insignificant.

The source explained that the family acted within legal boundaries and those upset about the situation should challenge the lawmakers, not the family.

The official concluded that the uproar was unwarranted and equated it to making a fuss over nothing.

Chairman of BUA Cement Plc, Dr Abdul Samad Rabiu, has stated that recent foreign exchange reforms by the Central Bank of Nigeria have removed the need for companies to seek FX through lobbying. Rabiu made these remarks on Monday in Abuja during a media briefing following BUA Cement Plc’s 9th Annual General Meeting.

He described the new FX policy as more open and driven by market dynamics, contrasting it with previous approaches which, according to him, led to artificial shortages and pushed businesses to seek special access to dollars.

“I was making a joke a few weeks ago that I’ve only seen the current CBN Governor maybe twice since his appointment. That’s because I don’t need him. Before now, I used to visit the CBN every two weeks to lobby for FX. That was the only way to survive,” Rabiu said.

He criticised the old FX regime where the official rate was far below the black market rate, saying it distorted the system and restricted access for businesses.

“The rate was N500 or N600 officially, but nobody could get it. On the street, it was closer to N1,000. It was an artificial rate,” he said.

The BUA chairman commended the current FX reforms for merging rates, saying, “Now, the rate you get is what everyone else gets. You go to the bank, you get FX at the market rate.”

Rabiu voiced confidence in a continued appreciation of the naira, predicting that the exchange rate could drop to around N1,200/$ in the near future, down from nearly N2,000 earlier in the year.

He mentioned that the strengthening of the naira was already reducing the prices of goods, including cement and food items.

Speaking on the issue of cement pricing, Rabiu said the rise in production costs, especially due to FX fluctuations, energy costs, and the need for imported machinery, were responsible for recent price increases. Nevertheless, he noted that BUA had tried to maintain stable prices.

Rabiu explained that BUA Cement’s revenue grew to N877bn in 2024 from N460bn in 2023, even though the company recorded FX losses of N93.9bn.

He stated that the company’s profit before tax rose by 48.2 per cent to N99.63bn, and its return on average capital employed increased to 15 per cent from 10 per cent the previous year.

The company’s earnings per share climbed to N2.18 in 2024 from N2.05 in 2023, marking a 6.3 per cent rise. “This performance was driven by a combination of increased dispatch volumes and prudent pricing strategies, even as the Company absorbed rising input costs.

“Cash generation grew significantly, enabling increased capital expenditure financing and supporting our strategic efforts to reduce exposure to foreign currency obligations. This was achieved by paying down import finance facilities and aligning accrued interest payments with available cash flows,” he said.

Rabiu added that BUA Cement earned N81bn in profit after tax in the first quarter of 2025, surpassing its full-year profit for 2024. He projected that total earnings for 2025 could reach N250bn, attributing this growth to improved efficiency, reduced FX losses, and higher production capacity.

He said the company had no immediate expansion plans beyond its current capacity of 20 million metric tonnes, after recently launching two new cement lines in Sokoto and Edo States.

Rabiu also restated BUA’s focus on shareholder value, announcing a dividend of N2.05 per share, representing a payout ratio of 94 per cent.

The Managing Director and CEO of BUA Cement, Yusuf Binji, also spoke, highlighting the company’s strong financial results, agility, and strategic focus on growth despite a dynamic economic environment.

Binji said the company’s biggest cost—energy—was being tackled through the construction of a 700-tonnes-per-day LNG regasification plant, which would ensure supply and cut costs. He added that BUA Cement had renegotiated its service contracts to favour local content as a way to reduce FX risks and lower operational expenses.