Human rights activist and presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Omoyele Sowore, on Monday led a protest in Abuja calling for better salaries, welfare packages, and pensions for serving and retired police officers in Nigeria.
The protest, which drew several civil society groups and concerned citizens, began at the Unity Fountain and proceeded toward the National Assembly complex under heavy security presence.
Protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as “Pay Police What They Deserve” and “Retired Officers Deserve Dignity, Not Suffering.”
Another inscription seen by First News correspondent read, “Decent salaries now, end Police slavery, Pension for retired officers, dignity for those in uniforms.”
Speaking during the rally, Sowore criticised successive governments for what he described as decades of neglect of the Nigeria Police Force, noting that poor remuneration and inadequate retirement benefits have worsened corruption and weakened morale within the service.
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“We are here to demand justice for those who risk their lives daily to keep us safe.
“A police officer should not have to beg or die in poverty after serving this nation,” Sowore said.
He also called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to immediately implement comprehensive reforms that would guarantee a living wage for officers, timely payment of pensions, and improved working conditions.
Some retired officers who joined the protest recounted their struggles with unpaid entitlements and rising medical bills, urging the government to treat them with dignity.
