The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has responded to ongoing public discussions surrounding the planned peaceful protest by retired police officers over pension-related concerns, urging calm and clarifying its stance on the matter.
In a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, the Force reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare of its retired personnel while cautioning against the politicisation of the protest.
The statement acknowledged the legitimacy of the agitation for improved pension conditions and the demand for an exit from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
It noted that the issue has persisted for over a decade and remains unresolved due to legal and administrative constraints beyond the powers of any Inspector-General.
The agitation for improved police pensions, particularly the call for exit from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), is not a recent development, the statement read. It has spanned over a decade. Since 2014, successive Inspectors-General of Police have demonstrated empathy, engaged critical stakeholders, and provided institutional support for this cause.
Yet, despite these earnest efforts, the desired outcome has remained elusive; not for lack of will, but due to entrenched legal provisions, fiscal limitations, and administrative bottlenecks. The hard truth is that exiting the Police from the CPS lies beyond the remit of any Inspector-General, as the matter is deeply woven into a web of statutory mandates, inter-agency protocols, and policy inertia.
The Police Force, however, criticised certain individuals and groups for allegedly exploiting the protest for political gain, accusing them of spreading misinformation and distorting facts to discredit the government and undermine the institution.
It is disheartening to observe how certain actors have chosen to politicise a sensitive welfare issue, weaponising the legitimate grievances of our retired colleagues for ulterior motives, the Force said.
Despite this, the current police leadership outlined a two-pronged strategy: supporting the call for reform while initiating alternative solutions to meet the immediate needs of retirees. Measures include tapping into internally generated revenue and mobilising private sector partnerships to enhance pension benefits.
With the protest scheduled for Monday, July 21, 2025, primarily in the Federal Capital Territory and other states with formal notification, the IGP has directed all Commissioners of Police to ensure peaceful conduct and provide adequate security coverage.
The Force pledged to protect the rights of retirees to protest peacefully and instructed officers to treat retired colleagues with utmost respect. At the same time, efforts will be made to prevent the hijacking of the demonstration by non-retired actors or political agitators.
The protest must not only be peaceful; it must be exemplary, the statement said, urging serving officers to uphold professionalism and view the moment as a test of the Force’s values and discipline.
The Inspector-General also warned serving officers against falling prey to manipulation or misinformation from individuals unfamiliar with the ethics and discipline of the profession.
