Nigeria Police Responds to Planned Protest by Retired Officers

The Nigeria Police Force has issued a statement addressing the growing conversation surrounding the peaceful protest being organised by some retired police officers over their pension entitlements.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who spoke on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police.

While acknowledging that some of the concerns raised are legitimate, the police said certain narratives have been coloured by misinformation and deliberate attempts to discredit both the Federal Government and the leadership of the Force.

“It is disheartening to observe how certain actors have chosen to politicise a sensitive welfare issue, weaponizing the legitimate grievances of our retired colleagues for ulterior motives,” the statement read.

The Force warned that some individuals are twisting facts and stoking public emotions not for reform, but for disruption. However, it stressed that its focus remains on the welfare of those who served the country with courage and honour.

The agitation for the exit of the police from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), the Force noted, dates back to 2014. It added that past and present Inspectors-General have shown support for the cause, but the matter is complicated by legal and financial constraints beyond the control of the Force.

According to the statement, “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.”

It further explained that expert projections show the scheme is improving, and future retirees are expected to receive more favourable benefits, urging a pragmatic approach to ongoing discussions.

To address the current challenges, the Force disclosed that the present police leadership is actively working on alternative solutions — including leveraging internally generated revenue and seeking private sector support to enhance pensions for retired personnel.

“These interventions are already underway and reflect a broader, more holistic strategy to elevate the welfare of our retired personnel, not merely through policy debates, but through tangible results,” the statement noted.

While assuring that the protest scheduled for Monday, July 21, 2025, will not be obstructed, the police emphasized it has no intention of suppressing it.

“Let it be stated unequivocally that this explanation is not intended to suppress the planned protest. On the contrary, it reflects a leadership that listens, understands, and engages in good faith,” it added.

Retired officers who choose to proceed with the protest, especially within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other states where prior notification has been given, will be accorded full protection, the police said.

The Inspector-General of Police has directed Commissioners of Police across the country to ensure the peaceful conduct of the protest, protect participants, prevent hijack by miscreants, and sensitize serving officers on the constitutional rights of peaceful assembly.

Describing the protest as “the mother of all peaceful protests,” the IGP urged that it should become a model of dignified expression and public order.

“We must show, by conduct and command, that the Nigeria Police Force is both professional and humane,” the IGP was quoted as saying. “This is more than a directive; it is a call to institutional responsibility, a test of our maturity, our values, and our discipline.”

The statement concluded with a warning to serving officers not to be misled by those seeking to stir up unrest, stressing the importance of maintaining discipline and respect for those who served before.