After dedicating 30 to 35 years of their lives to serving Nigeria, many retired police officers are facing a shocking reality: meager retirement benefits that barely sustain them. Recent revelations indicate that some receive as little as ₦900,000 to ₦1.5 million, with the highest-ranking retirees getting only ₦3.5 million—amounts grossly insufficient to cover basic post-retirement needs.
A retired officer recently shared his ordeal in a televised interview, exposing what many describe as a blatant betrayal of Nigeria’s police force. These men and women spent decades working under harsh conditions—often without proper equipment, delayed salaries, and constant risks—only to be left with pensions that cannot support their families, medical expenses, or even small business ventures.
A Flawed Pension System
The Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), designed to secure retirees' futures, has instead become a trap for lower-ranking officers. Unlike the military, DSS, and NIA—which successfully exited the scheme—rank-and-file police officers remain stuck in a system that leaves them financially vulnerable.
Even more alarming are claims that while the federal government attempted to remove the police from the CPS, two successive Inspectors-General of Police (IGPs) allegedly resisted the move. Meanwhile, these same IGPs and other top-ranking officers reportedly exempted themselves from the scheme, leaving junior officers behind.
A System of Injustice
This glaring disparity raises serious ethical concerns. The very leaders entrusted with protecting the welfare of police personnel appear to have prioritized their own interests, abandoning their subordinates to a broken system. Despite promises of improved benefits and support, retired officers say little has been done to address their plight.
Nigeria’s police force has long struggled with systemic issues—poor funding, inadequate training, deplorable living conditions, and low morale. But the pension crisis adds another layer of cruelty, treating retired officers as disposable rather than honoring their sacrifices.
This is more than a policy failure—it is a moral failing. If Nigeria truly values the service of its police force, urgent reforms must be implemented to ensure these retirees receive the dignity and support they deserve. The time for action is now.
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