Peaceful Protest By Retired Police Officers: Nigeria Police Force Sets Record Straight, Affirms Commitment To Welfare, Security

…Acknowledge Ongoing Conversations Around Pension Protests

BY ABU-SATAR HAMED

FCT, ABUJA, NIGERIA – The Nigeria Police Force has acknowledged the current discourse surrounding the peaceful protest being planned by some retired police officers over pension entitlements.

While some accounts in the public space are factual and expressed in good faith, others, according to the Force, are laced with misinformation, emotional manipulation, and deliberate distortions aimed at discrediting both the Government and the current leadership of the Nigeria Police.

In a firm response, through a release e-signed and made available to StarTrend Int’l magazine and online platform by ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, mnipr, mipra, fCAI, Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, the Police decried how some actors have politicised what is fundamentally a welfare matter.

“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 stated that these actors are not pushing for reform but disruption, using tactics that twist facts, stir public emotion, and erode trust in public institutions. Such actions, it warned, undermine the integrity of both the Police and public discourse in Nigeria.

Despite the distractions, the Police maintained its focus on the core issue: the welfare of those who once bore the burden of national security with courage and honour. The leadership underscored its ongoing efforts to address the legitimate concerns of retired officers.

The Force clarified that the demand for improved police pensions – especially the push to exit the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) – has been ongoing for over a decade.
“Since 2014, successive Inspectors-General of Police have shown empathy, engaged with key stakeholders, and provided institutional backing for the cause. However, progress has been hindered not by lack of will but by legal, fiscal, and bureaucratic constraints”, the release further stated.

The statement pointed out that exiting the CPS is beyond the unilateral authority of any IGP. “The matter is deeply woven into a web of statutory mandates, inter-agency protocols, and policy inertia”, it explained.

According to expert projections, the CPS will deliver better returns over time. Officers retiring in the next five years are expected to receive more favourable benefits compared to current retirees.

This, the Force said, demands a pragmatic reassessment of how to approach the issue in the short term.

Recognising the evolving pension realities, the current police leadership is employing a two-pronged strategy – supporting the agitation in principle and exploring immediate, innovative solutions to cushion retirees’ hardships

These include plans to use internally generated revenues for supplementary pension benefits and to mobilise private sector support for enhanced pension packages. These initiatives, already underway, aim to deliver tangible welfare improvements for retired personnel.

The Police confirmed that the Federal Government has been sensitised and is expected to respond appropriately to the current initiatives and proposals from the Force.

The Police made it clear that this explanation is not a move to stop the planned protest. Instead, it reflects a leadership that listens, understands, and engages in good faith.

The release said, “The Inspector-General of Police has met with several retired officers over the past year, leading to some groups withdrawing from the planned protest in support of the ongoing efforts.

“For those still proceeding, their right to protest will be respected. The protest is scheduled for Monday, July 21, 2025, primarily in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other state commands where prior notice has been submitted.

“Accordingly, the Inspector-General of Police has directed all Commissioners of Police to ensure the peaceful conduct of the protest within their jurisdictions, especially in the FCT and other states where formal notice has been received; provide adequate security coverage to our retired colleagues who have chosen to publicly express their grievances; prevent any hijack of the protest by miscreants, political actors, or non-retired agitators; sensitise officers and men under their command on the constitutional rights to peaceful assembly, and the obligation to show utmost respect to our retired colleagues; while deploying intelligence and operational resources to protect lives, maintain public order, and safeguard institutional integrity”, the release stated.

The IGP described the planned protest as potentially “the mother of all peaceful protests”, urging officers to uphold professionalism and humanity in their response.

“We must show, by conduct and command, that the Nigeria Police Force is both professional and humane”, the IGP said.

He called on the Force to treat this protest as a test of institutional values, discipline, and maturity, urging all officers to respond with restraint, wisdom, and respect for their predecessors.

Finally, serving officers were cautioned not to fall prey to misinformation or be misled by individuals who either lack understanding of police ethics or aim to sow discord.

“Let us rise to this moment with wisdom, restraint, and unwavering respect for those who served before us”, the Police concluded.