The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has formally appealed to the Nigerian Senate to intervene in the retirement benefits of police officers, citing a “humiliating” pension scheme that fails to reflect the risks and sacrifices of police service. In a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the IGP called on lawmakers to exclude the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), which he described as unsuited to the realities of policing in Nigeria.
This move follows a wave of protests by retired police officers, spearheaded by human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore. Their collective outcry has amplified public scrutiny on the matter of pensions for retired police officers in Nigeria.
Mr Egbetokun’s letter, dated July 25, 2025, admitted that the current retirement package under CPS leaves most former officers destitute. “The current state of affairs demands decisive legislative action to align the pension realities of the Force with the peculiar risks, structure, and expectations of policing in Nigeria,” he wrote.
He emphasized that many retired officers live in “unacceptable” and “humiliating” conditions. Their pension payments, he said, are so low that they can barely survive. “Today, most retired officers of the Nigeria Police Force live in conditions that are not only unacceptable but humiliating, given the sacrifices they made in service to the nation. Their monthly pension under the CPS is abysmally low and grossly inadequate,” the IGP wrote.
The spotlight on pensions for retired police officers in Nigeria shines ever brighter, and the pressure is mounting for the National Assembly to act.
A Cry from the Ranks: “I Served Wholeheartedly, This Is the Reward?”
The plight of retired officers isn’t just a statistic. It has faces, voices, and deep emotional scars. One retired Superintendent of Police, who exited service on October 1, 2023, broke down in a video shared by Sahara reporters that has now gone viral. He revealed the Nigerian Police Pension Board recently informed him that his full pension payout amounted to a mere ₦3 million – ₦1 million in arrears and ₦2 million as his entire entitlement.
In the video, the ex police officer while narrating his ordeal said “I laugh—the Nigerian Police. I am a retired Superintendent of Police. I retired from the Nigerian Police on October 1st, 2023. Since then, nothing has been paid to me. Just two weeks ago, they called me and said they were going to pay me three million naira. For what? They said that was my pension. Lo and behold, the three million naira isn’t even my full pension. One million naira is supposed to be arrears from the time I retired till now. The remaining two million naira is my entitlement. I cannot serve this country for 35 good years and be paid just two million naira. The devil is a liar. Please, let the Inspector-General of Police hear this.”
His words are more than a complaint; they are a mirror into a broken system. A system that dishonors decades of service with crumbs. And this situation is not unique. It speaks to a broader issue affecting pensions for retired police officers in Nigeria and raises serious questions about the long-term sustainability and fairness of the CPS.
Sowore Calls the IGP’s Letter a ‘Ruse’ to Douse Public Anger
Not everyone is buying the IGP’s sudden plea. Omoyele Sowore, the outspoken political activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, believes the letter is a strategic distraction. In a Facebook post, he said, “This is a ruse, don’t fall for it. It is a calculated move to calm the rising anger of retired and serving police officers, nothing more than a distraction. They are feeling the heat of the #POLICEPROTEST, the very protest they swore would never happen.”
Sowore had earlier shared a clip of the retired DSP, expressing disbelief over how someone could serve for 35 years and end up with just ₦2.4 million. “This is wicked!” he exclaimed. In another viral tweet, he slammed Nigerian leaders: “Senators pocket ₦30 million monthly while police earn ₦35,000 pension after 35 years, rot in poverty.”
His sentiments found support among everyday Nigerians online. One user, @CorruptionIzBad, posted: “How do we truly save Nigerians from this unending cycle of misery and betrayal? I remember my father’s solemn words to me: ‘My son, never pin your hopes on working for the Nigerian federal or state government. It will drain you, reduce you to nothing. If you must take a government job, choose one that is undemanding so you can build other businesses on the side. Never let your life depend on it. The federal jobs will consume your dreams and leave you destitute, unless you have another source of income.” The good jobs are for their children and relatives. ’”
That comment resonated deeply with others, highlighting the generational disillusionment with public service careers. The recurring theme is clear: pensions for retired police officers in Nigeria reflects broader systemic failures that can no longer be ignored.
Also Read: Sowore Should be Invited for Questioning, Says Ebuka Obi on Officer Dismissals
A National Shame Demanding Urgent Redress
Beyond social media reactions and individual testimonies, the issue points to a deep institutional failure. The CPS, as it stands, appears ill-suited to professions with high-risk exposure like policing. This is not just about money; it is about justice, recognition, and human dignity.
The Nigerian Police Force plays a critical role in maintaining internal order, often under dangerous and thankless conditions. If society cannot ensure a decent life for officers after retirement, it sends the wrong message to those still in service. It affects morale. It erodes trust.
The IGP’s letter, whether genuine or not, puts the ball squarely in the court of the Nigerian Senate. Will they take up the challenge to reform the pension system and offer retired officers what they deserve? Or will this end up as another forgotten document in a pile of ignored pleas?
One thing is certain: the current model fails to honor the service of thousands who risked their lives in the line of duty. It is high time lawmakers prioritized reforms that reflect the unique demands of policing.
The fight to restructure the pensions scheme for retired police officers in Nigeria must move beyond words. The lived experiences of these officers deserve action, not pity.
Time for Change
This is not just a policy debate. It is a national reckoning. The shameful state of pensions for retired police officers in Nigeria is no longer a hidden wound. It is a festering crisis, one now laid bare by the voices of those it affects most.
From the raw frustration of retired officers to the growing outrage on social media, the message is clear: something must change. Nigerians can no longer afford to overlook the betrayal faced by those who pledged to protect them.
As we await the Senate’s response, let this not be another forgotten headline. Let this be the moment Nigeria chooses to honor its defenders, not discard them.
What do you think? Do retired officers deserve a different pension scheme? Have you or someone close to you experienced similar challenges in retirement? Share your story. The conversation must continue until justice is served.
Stay with The Nation Digest News for current news and events in Nigeria, citizens’ opinions, Nigerian social commentary, public opinion, Newspiration in Nigeria, Viral stories across Nigeria. We cover the pulse of the nation.
