July 21, (THEWILL) — The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Deputy Inspector- General of Police, Hashimu Argungu, retired, have expressed divergent views on a nationwide protest today by retired personnel of the Nigeria Police Force over pension issues.
While the Force declared its support for the retirees’ right to peaceful assembly, but warned against attempts to politicise the protest, the PSC took a swipe at the retired personnel for failing to explore dialogue to its logical conclusion.
In a radical move to press their demands for better pension entitlements, hundreds of police retirees have ignored a plea for understanding by IGP Egbetokun and the condemnation from DIG Argungu. Instead, they chose to embark on a nationwide protest after failed attempts to amicably resolve the issue.
THEWILL gathered that the pensioners are seeking redress for poor retirement benefits and removal from the much-criticised Contributory Pension Scheme, which men of the Nigeria Intelligence Agency, NIS, the Directorate of Security Services, DSS and the military exited over a year ago. Interestingly, the top brass of the Force, such as the AIG, DIG and IGP, have pulled themselves out of the pension scheme while the rank and file have remained in it.
According to some of the aggrieved retirees, they get as low as between N900,000 and N3.5 million after working dedicatedly for 30 to 35 years.
After failed attempts to “quietly work to exit the scheme without success,” they decided to embark on a nationwide protest to further draw attention to their plight.
The protesters said “the mother of all peaceful protests,” was scheduled for Monday, July 21, 2025, in the Federal Capital Territory and other states of the federation.
Reacting to the planned protest for which the Police authority said some formations across the country have got notification, IGP Egbetokun, on Sunday, expressed readiness to provide full security support for the planned peaceful protest and urged the protesters to avoid any attempt to politicise the agitation.
According to Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, Commissioners of Police and officers have been directed to ensure the protest remains peaceful, while protecting participants from possible hijack by miscreants or political actors.
He said, “It is disheartening to observe how certain actors have chosen to politicise a sensitive welfare issue, weaponising the legitimate grievances of our retired colleagues for ulterior motives.
“Their intention is not reform, but disruption. Their tactics involve twisting facts, inflaming sentiments and sowing distrust in the public space. These actions do a disservice not only to our noble institution but also to the integrity of public discourse in our country.
“We, however, remain focused on the real issue, which is the welfare of those who once bore the burden of national security with courage and honour.”
As part of the preparation for the protest, Adejobi said the IGP instructed Commissioners of Police across the country to sensitise serving officers on respecting the rights of retirees and ensuring the protest is handled with professionalism and dignity.
He said, “The Inspector-General of Police has directed all Commissioners of Police to ensure the peaceful conduct of the protest within their jurisdiction, 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 various commands 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.”
Adejobi disclosed that the call by retired officers to exit the Contributory Pension Scheme has been a prolonged affair which has been frustrated by the system.
“The agitation for improved police pensions, particularly the call for exit from the CPS, is not a recent development. It has spanned over a decade. Since 2014, successive Inspectors-General of Police have demonstrated empathy, engaged critical stakeholders and provided institutional support for this cause, “ he said, adding: “Yet, despite these earnest efforts, the desired outcome has remained elusive; not for lack of will, but due to entrenched legal provisions, fiscal limitations and administrative bottlenecks.”
For the PSC, the planned protest is, “ill-timed and diversionary.”
Spokesperson of the Commission, Mr Ikechukwu Ani, said on Sunday the protest was unnecessary as the issues raised by the retirees were already receiving attention from relevant authorities.
It further pointed out that the planned protest, despite consensus on the need to improve retired officers’ conditions, was unnecessary and could distract from ongoing efforts at resolving the issues at stake.
He said that DIG Argungu (retd) had repeatedly condemned the poor and discriminatory pension scheme for certain retired officers and called for a harmonised pension system and continued pushing for reforms to enhance retirees’ Welfare.
“The Commission wishes to state that it will at no time deviate from its determined efforts to ensure an improved welfare for Police Officers, senior or junior, and serving or retired.
“It wishes to advise the drivers of this planned protest to review their intentions and return to the negotiating table in the interest of the existing peace in the country. The Commission is of the strong belief that the nation cannot afford this distraction at this time of our democratic journey,” Ani said.
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