Abuja, Nigeria – In a bold display of civil resistance, Omoyele Sowore, mortal rights activist and former presidential candidate, on Monday led a civil kick in Abuja alongside hundreds of retired and active police officers demanding critical reforms to the country’s police pension and payment structure.
The kick, which began at the National Assembly and moved through major points in the capital, including the Force Headquarters, attracted wide attention as demonstrators called for an end to what they described as systemic injustice faced by Nigerian police labor force, particularly retirees.
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Carrying bills with citations analogous as” Pay Police Living paycheck,”” End Pension Slavery,” and” Justice for Retired Officers,” the protesters called on the Federal Government to remove retired police officers from the Contributory Pension Scheme( CPS) and refund all withheld deductions under the scheme.
“ We have been abandoned after times of service. We want out of the CPS, and we demand full refunds of our contributions. This is a peaceful kick, and we wo n’t back down, ” said Mannir M. Lawal, Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Retired Police Officers, who addressed the crowd.
Despite warnings from the Nigeria Police Force and the Police Community Relations Committee( PCRC) discouraging the kick, organizers went ahead, describing the action as the “ ma of all peaceful protests, ” with officers mustered from all 36 countries.
Sowore, speaking at the kick, condemned the police authorities’ attempt to suppress the rally. “ You lowered these officers in service and in pullout. Now you’re scrabbling, locking officers in barracks and issuing warnings.
These are peaceful retirees fighting for their rights, ” Sowore said in a passionate address to protesters.
A blurted internal memo from the Force Headquarters had before instructed police labor force in Abuja to remain in barracks, heightening enterprises of possible inhibition or battle. still, no major clashes were recorded during the kick.
While the police conceded the legitimacy of the demands, the force urged protesters to avoid allowing political interests to commandeer the movement.
The PCRC advised that the kick could be aimed at discrediting the Inspector- General of Police and the current administration.
observers say Monday’s rally reflects the growing frustration among Nigeria’s security forces, multitudinous of whom face poor welfare conditions both during and after service.
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The demonstration also rekindles remembrances of the 2020#EndSARS protests, with critics egging the government to address root causes of disgruntlement within the police system.
As of press time, no sanctioned response had been issued by the Federal Government regarding the protesters’ demandsAbuja, Nigeria – In a bold display of civil resistance, Omoyele Sowore, mortal rights activist and former presidential candidate, on Monday led a civil kick in Abuja alongside hundreds of retired and active police officers demanding critical reforms to the country’s police pension and payment structure.
The kick, which began at the National Assembly and moved through major points in the capital, including the Force Headquarters, attracted wide attention as demonstrators called for an end to what they described as systemic injustice faced by Nigerian police labor force, particularly retirees.
Carrying bills with citations analogous as” Pay Police Living paycheck,”” End Pension Slavery,” and” Justice for Retired Officers,” the protesters called on the Federal Government to remove retired police officers from the Contributory Pension Scheme( CPS) and refund all withheld deductions under the scheme.
“ We have been abandoned after times of service. We want out of the CPS, and we demand full refunds of our contributions. This is a peaceful kick, and we wo n’t back down, ” said Mannir M. Lawal, Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Retired Police Officers, who addressed the crowd.
Despite warnings from the Nigeria Police Force and the Police Community Relations Committee( PCRC) discouraging the kick, organizers went ahead, describing the action as the “ ma of all peaceful protests,
” with officers mustered from all 36 countries. Sowore, speaking at the kick, condemned the police authorities’ attempt to suppress the rally. “ You lowered these officers in service and in pullout. Now you’re scrabbling, locking officers in barracks and issuing warnings.
These are peaceful retirees fighting for their rights, ” Sowore said in a passionate address to protesters, A blurted internal memo from the Force Headquarters had before instructed police labor force in Abuja to remain in barracks, heightening enterprises of possible inhibition or battle.
still, no major clashes were recorded during the kick. While the police conceded the legitimacy of the demands, the force urged protesters to avoid allowing political interests to commandeer the movement.
The PCRC advised that the kick could be aimed at discrediting the Inspector- General of Police and the current administration. observers say Monday’s rally reflects the growing frustration among Nigeria’s security forces, multitudinous of whom face poor welfare conditions both during and after service.
The demonstration also rekindles remembrances of the 2020#EndSARS protests, with critics egging the government to address root causes of disgruntlement within the police system.
As of press time, no sanctioned response had been issued by the Federal Government regarding the protesters’ demandsAbuja, Nigeria – In a bold display of civil resistance, Omoyele Sowore, mortal rights activist and former presidential candidate, on Monday led a civil kick in Abuja alongside hundreds of retired and active police officers demanding critical reforms to the country’s police pension and payment structure.
The kick, which began at the National Assembly and moved through major points in the capital, including the Force Headquarters, attracted wide attention as demonstrators called for an end to what they described as systemic injustice faced by Nigerian police labor force, particularly retirees.
Carrying bills with citations analogous as” Pay Police Living paycheck,”” End Pension Slavery,” and” Justice for Retired Officers,” the protesters called on the Federal Government to remove retired police officers from the Contributory Pension Scheme( CPS) and refund all withheld deductions under the scheme. “ We have been abandoned after times of service.
We want out of the CPS, and we demand full refunds of our contributions. This is a peaceful kick, and we wo n’t back down, ” said Mannir M. Lawal, Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Retired Police Officers, who addressed the crowd.
Despite warnings from the Nigeria Police Force and the Police Community Relations Committee( PCRC) discouraging the kick, organizers went ahead, describing the action as the “ ma of all peaceful protests, ” with officers mustered from all 36 countries. Sowore, speaking at the kick, condemned the police authorities’ attempt to suppress the rally.
“ You lowered these officers in service and in pullout. Now you’re scrabbling, locking officers in barracks and issuing warnings. These are peaceful retirees fighting for their rights, ” Sowore said in a passionate address to protesters.
A blurted internal memo from the Force Headquarters had before instructed police labor force in Abuja to remain in barracks, heightening enterprises of possible inhibition or battle. still, no major clashes were recorded during the kick.
While the police conceded the legitimacy of the demands, the force urged protesters to avoid allowing political interests to commandeer the movement.
The PCRC advised that the kick could be aimed at discrediting the Inspector- General of Police and the current administration. observers say Monday’s rally reflects the growing frustration among Nigeria’s security forces, multitudinous of whom face poor welfare conditions both during and after service.
The demonstration also rekindles remembrances of the 2020#EndSARS protests, with critics egging the government to address root causes of disgruntlement within the police system. As of press time, no sanctioned response had been issued by the Federal Government regarding the protesters’ demands.
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