The Nigeria Police Force has cautioned against the politicisation of the planned peaceful protest by retired police officers over their pension entitlements, warning that certain individuals are attempting to exploit the situation to discredit the government and undermine police leadership.
In a strongly statement issued on Sunday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, the Force acknowledged the legitimacy of the retirees’ grievances but condemned the injection of “misinformation, emotional manipulation, and calculated distortions” into the ongoing discourse.
“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 statement read. “Their intent is not reform, but disruption.”
The Force emphasised that the agitation for the removal of the police from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) is a decade-long issue that cannot be resolved by the Inspector-General alone, as it involves statutory mandates, inter-agency collaboration, and fiscal policies.
Since 2014, the statement noted, successive police leaderships have supported the campaign for pension reform but have been constrained by legal and administrative bottlenecks. Nonetheless, the current police administration is pursuing a two-pronged approach—supporting the agitation in principle while exploring alternative welfare packages.
These include leveraging internally generated revenue for supplementary pension support and engaging the private sector to establish targeted pension enhancement initiatives. “These interventions are already underway and reflect a broader, more holistic strategy to elevate the welfare of our retired personnel,” the Force said.
While clarifying that it does not oppose the protest scheduled for Monday, July 21, 2025, the Force reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the rights of the protesters. It assured retired officers that they would be provided with adequate security during the demonstrations in Abuja and other states where prior notice has been issued.
The Inspector-General has directed all Commissioners of Police to ensure peaceful conduct, prevent hijack of the protest by miscreants or political actors, and educate serving personnel on respecting the rights of retirees.
“This protest, described as ‘the mother of all peaceful protests,’ must not only be peaceful; it must be exemplary,” the statement added. “We must show, by conduct and command, that the Nigeria Police Force is both professional and humane.”
The police leadership further warned serving officers not to be misled by elements who may be “ignorant of the ethics of our profession or are up for manipulation and disruption.”
The statement concluded with a call for wisdom, restraint, and institutional maturity in managing the protests, emphasising that the dignity of retired officers must be preserved at all costs.
