Monday, July 21, 2025 - The Nigeria Police Force has assured adequate security and full respect for the rights of its retired officers as they prepare to stage what has been described as the “mother of all peaceful protests” over long-standing pension grievances.
Scheduled for Monday, 21 July 2025, in the Federal Capital
Territory and other notified states, the protest centres on demands for
improved welfare and the exit of police retirees from the Contributory Pension
Scheme (CPS).
In a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer,
Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Police reaffirmed its commitment to respecting the
rights of the protesting retirees, while addressing what it called
“misinformation and calculated distortions” aimed at discrediting the
government and the current leadership of the Force.
The statement acknowledged that the concerns raised by the
retirees are rooted in real hardship, but accused certain individuals of
politicising the issue by inflaming tensions and spreading falsehoods.
“Their intent is not reform, but disruption. These actions
do a disservice not only to our noble institution but to the integrity of
public discourse in our country,” it read.
The Force explained that agitation over the CPS has
persisted since 2014, with successive Inspectors-General expressing sympathy
and institutional support for the cause. However, it noted that the issue has
been constrained by legal and administrative challenges.
“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
statement clarified.
Despite this, the current Police leadership is said to be
adopting a two-pronged approach: supporting the agitation in principle while
also exploring practical alternatives to ease the burden on retired officers.
These alternatives include using internally generated
revenue to provide supplementary pension benefits, and seeking private sector
support for targeted welfare interventions. According to the statement, some of
these measures are already being implemented as part of a wider strategy to
improve the welfare of retired personnel.
The Police emphasised that its clarification should not be
seen as an attempt to suppress the protest, but rather as evidence of a
leadership that is willing to listen, engage, and act.
The Inspector-General of Police has reportedly held
extensive consultations with retired officers over the past year, resulting in
some groups withdrawing support for the protest after gaining clarity on
ongoing reforms.
The Force further assured that the right to peaceful protest
would be upheld. The IGP has directed Commissioners of Police across the
country, especially in the FCT, to provide adequate security and ensure that
the demonstrations remain peaceful.
Police officers have also been instructed to prevent hijack
of the protests by miscreants, political opportunists, or non-retired
agitators.
Serving officers are to be sensitised on the need to treat
retirees with the utmost respect, while deploying intelligence and operational
strategies to protect lives, maintain order, and uphold the dignity of the
Police.
Describing the planned demonstration as “the mother of all
peaceful protests”, the IGP urged officers to ensure that it sets a national
standard for peaceful and dignified expression of grievances.
“This is more than a directive; it is a call to
institutional responsibility, a test of our maturity, our values, and our
discipline,” the IGP said, cautioning serving personnel not to be misled by
misinformation or actors seeking to sow discord.
The Force concluded by calling for wisdom, restraint, and
deep respect for those who have served the nation, reiterating that the welfare
of retired officers remains a top priority for the current administration.
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