In a bold and emotional appeal, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has petitioned the Nigerian Senate, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) from the current Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). The call comes in response to intensifying protests by retired police officers, who describe their pension as “miserable” and “humiliating.”
In a letter dated July 25, 2025, and received by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on July 29, the IGP outlined the “institutional injustice” faced by police retirees under the CPS. The letter, which has now surfaced on social media following a leak by activist Omoyele Sowore, called for an urgent amendment to the Contributory Pension Act 2014.
“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,” the IGP wrote.
“The debilitating impact of the CPS on police morale and institutional cohesion cannot be overstated.”
The petition follows nationwide protests by retired police personnel, including demonstrations at the National Assembly Complex and Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Carrying placards and chanting for reform, the officers described years of dedicated service followed by neglect.
One protester said:
“After 35 years of risking our lives, we are rewarded with peanuts. Some of our colleagues can’t even afford healthcare.”
While many Nigerians have applauded the IGP’s move as long overdue, others remain skeptical. Omoyele Sowore, who leaked the letter, labeled the petition “performative,” claiming it was aimed at calming tensions rather than initiating real change.
“It’s a calculated attempt to pacify anger, not a genuine reform effort,” Sowore stated on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account.
IGP Egbetokun has assured that the Police Force Management is currently in active dialogue with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and other top-level stakeholders. He noted that while reforms are underway, details will remain confidential for now to avoid “jeopardizing sensitive discussions.”
As of the time of this report, no formal statement has been issued by the Police Force.
