The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has addressed growing public discourse surrounding the planned peaceful protest by retired police officers over pension-related grievances, calling for calm and reaffirming its support for the welfare of its former personnel.
In a statement released by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, the Force emphasized that it respects the retirees’ rights to protest peacefully while urging against politicising the issue.
“The agitation for improved police pensions, particularly the demand to exit the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), is not a recent development,” the statement read. “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.”
Despite the persistent efforts, the Police noted that progress has been hindered by legal and administrative constraints. “The hard truth is that exiting the Police from the CPS lies beyond the remit of any Inspector-General,” the statement added, citing entrenched statutory mandates, inter-agency protocols, and fiscal limitations.
The Police Force also expressed concern over attempts by certain individuals and groups to exploit the protest for political purposes. “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,” the Force stated.
As part of its response, the current police leadership unveiled a dual approach: advocating for long-term reforms while also pursuing short-term alternatives. These include leveraging internally generated revenues and fostering partnerships with the private sector to improve pension support for retirees.
Ahead of the protest scheduled for Monday, July 21, 2025, in Abuja and several other states, the Inspector-General of Police has instructed all Commissioners of Police to provide necessary security and ensure the demonstration remains peaceful and orderly.
“The protest must not only be peaceful; it must be exemplary,” the Force emphasized. Officers have been directed to treat retired colleagues with utmost dignity, while also guarding against attempts to hijack the protest by non-retired actors or political agitators.
The Inspector-General further urged serving personnel to remain professional and not be swayed by misinformation, emphasizing that the situation presents an opportunity for the Force to demonstrate its values of discipline, respect, and unity.
