Retired police officers in Nigeria have expressed deep frustration over what they describe as poor retirement benefits, revealing that some receive as little as ₦1.5 million after serving the country for up to 35 years.
The concerns were raised during a protest at the Oyo State Police Headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, where retirees gathered to demand urgent reforms to the current pension system. According to them, both their lump-sum payments and monthly pensions are insufficient to meet basic living needs.
Speaking at the protest, a retired Superintendent of Police, Joseph Alabi, said many former officers are struggling financially. He disclosed that his monthly pension is about ₦70,000, an amount he described as inadequate for sustaining a household and handling family responsibilities.
Alabi also questioned the continued inclusion of police personnel in the Contributory Pension Scheme managed by the National Pension Commission. He noted that other security agencies, including the military, operate separate pension arrangements and called for similar treatment for the police.
He urged the Federal Government to assent to a bill already passed by the National Assembly that would enable the police to exit the scheme and establish a more favorable pension structure for both serving and retired officers.
Another protester, retired Deputy Superintendent of Police Omotayo Salaudeen, described the situation as discouraging. He said receiving between ₦1.5 million and ₦2 million after 35 years of service does not reflect the sacrifices made by officers. He appealed for urgent government intervention and public support.
Also speaking, retired electrical engineer Babatunde Oluwatoye, who joined the protest in solidarity, expressed concern over the broader implications of poor welfare for police personnel. He warned that inadequate retirement benefits could affect the morale of serving officers and impact national security.
The retirees stated that they would continue to press their demands through peaceful means, noting that similar protests have taken place in Abuja and other parts of the country.
