By Nkechi Eze
As retired police officers prepare for a nationwide protest scheduled for Monday, July 21, 2025, the Nigeria Police Force has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding their right to peaceful assembly while calling for restraint, responsibility, and respect for institutional processes. The planned demonstration, largely centred around long-standing grievances over police pensions and demands to exit the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), has sparked widespread debate in recent days.
In a statement released by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police acknowledged the legitimacy of many of the concerns being raised, while also cautioning against what it described as “misinformation, emotional manipulation, and calculated distortions” that have marred some aspects of the public conversation.
“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. “Their intent is not reform, but disruption.”
The statement emphasised that while the Nigeria Police Force remains fully aware of the frustrations surrounding the CPS, it also recognises that the process of exiting the scheme is complex and beyond the powers of the Inspector-General of Police. Since 2014, successive IGPs have made concerted efforts to support police retirees, but entrenched legal provisions, fiscal constraints, and bureaucratic challenges have hampered progress.
“Let it be made clear that the agitation for improved police pensions, particularly the call for exit from the CPS, is not a recent development. It has spanned more than a decade,” Adejobi stated, adding that the leadership of the Force has consistently engaged with stakeholders in a bid to push for reforms.
The Force also highlighted that expert projections indicate improved outcomes for officers who remain within the scheme in the coming years, noting that pension payments are expected to rise significantly as the system matures. This, the police argued, calls for a pragmatic approach and a shift in perspective among stakeholders.
In response to the ongoing agitation, the Force is adopting a dual-track strategy. This includes continued support for the agitation in principle, while simultaneously pursuing immediate, innovative measures to alleviate the hardships faced by retirees. These efforts involve tapping into internally generated revenue to supplement pension payouts, and working with private sector players to establish dedicated welfare initiatives for retired officers.
“These interventions are already underway and reflect a broader, more holistic strategy to elevate the welfare of our retired personnel, not merely through policy debates, but through tangible results,” the statement added. It also revealed that the Federal Government has been adequately sensitized and is expected to respond appropriately in due course.
Reiterating the right of retired officers to protest, the Nigeria Police Force stressed that it would not interfere with the peaceful demonstration. “Let it be stated unequivocally that this explanation is not intended to suppress the planned protest. On the contrary, it reflects a leadership that listens, understands, and engages in good faith,” Adejobi stated.
The Inspector-General of Police has, therefore, directed all Commissioners of Police across the country, especially within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other areas where formal notification of the protest has been submitted, to ensure peaceful conduct, provide adequate security, and prevent the protest from being hijacked by miscreants or political actors.
Serving police officers have also been cautioned to remain professional and not to be swayed by individuals seeking to exploit the protest for ulterior motives.
“This protest, described as ‘the mother of all peaceful protests’, must not only be peaceful, it must be exemplary. It should stand as a national model for dignified expression of grievance and responsible public order management,” the IGP charged.
The Police Force concluded by calling for restraint and institutional discipline, urging all personnel to treat their retired colleagues with respect and honour. “Let us rise to this moment with wisdom, restraint, and unwavering respect for those who served before us,” the statement declared.
