The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has said most retired police officers under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) are living in disgraceful conditions, sparking fear and hopelessness among those still in service.
Speaking in Abuja during a meeting with senior police officers on Tuesday, Egbetokun said the reality confronting retired officers is “morally unacceptable,” especially considering the years they dedicated to serving the country.
“One area I remain deeply committed to is the welfare of our retired officers under the Contributory Pensions Scheme, CPS. Their post-service condition is heartbreaking and morally unacceptable,” he said.
“Today, most retired officers of the Nigerian Police Force live in conditions that are not only unacceptable but humiliating, given the sacrifices they made in service to the nation. Their monthly pension under the CPS is maximally low and roughly inadequate to meet even the most basic needs. Many can no longer afford health care, housing, or a life of dignity,” the IGP added.
He said the fear of becoming poor after retirement has spread among officers and is damaging morale across ranks.
“This has turned retirement into a period of hardship and regret, eroding the confidence of serving officers, who now see their own future with fear rather than hope. Among serving officers, there exists a growing and deep-rooted anxiety, born from the belief, rightly or wrongly, that retirement is a descent into hardship. This fear has become so pervasive that it is having a noticeable demoralising effect on morale across ranks.”
Egbetokun admitted that attempts to explain the workings of the CPS to officers have only made things worse.
“Attempts made to educate them on the operation of the Contributory Pensions Scheme have been taken as attempts to keep them in perpetual bondage of the CPS.”
He said the police leadership had raised concerns at a public hearing at the National Assembly, which is considering a bill that could remove the police from the CPS.
“This stance was further reinforced in my recent letter to the National Assembly. While the agitation for our exit from the Contributory Pensions Scheme is just and deeply rooted in lived realities, it is imperative that our actions are guided by prudence and strategy.”
He also addressed claims that he was against the police leaving the scheme.
“I sounded a caution that my people should look well before they jump into any exit. There may be a booby trap in the bill. So what is the use in exiting out of this bill and jumping into an uncertainty? Some people have interpreted that to mean that I don’t want the police to exit. That is not true. But people often know that that’s not exactly what it meant.”
Egbetokun urged police commanders to stay in touch with both serving and retired officers to explain efforts being made to improve their welfare.
He announced a new measure to motivate those still in service: any officer who wins the Inspector-General’s award for exceptional professionalism twice in a row will now be considered for accelerated promotion.
“To further boost morale amongst serving officers, I am proud to announce a new welfare incentive. Any officer who wins the IDP’s award for exceptional professionalism twice consecutively will now be considered for accelerated promotion. This is not just a reward, it is a call to excellence, creativity, and patriotism,” he said.
“We are building a culture where excellence is not just applauded but advanced. The good is here. A motivated force is an effective force. Let us also recognise that while past efforts are commendable, they are not enough. Crime does not rest. Criminals do not pause.”
When asked to respond to criticism from a former Inspector-General, Egbetokun replied, “For those who know me, I believe in service discipline. I would therefore not want to join issues with him.”
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