For 35 years, they braved bullets and bandits, secured volatile territories, and kept vigil so that others could sleep peacefully. But in retirement, Nigeria’s ex-police officers face an even more daunting adversary: a pension system that has left many in hunger, despair and neglect. From faded uniforms to dashed hopes, their stories spotlight a national failure to honour its protectors, writes Assistant News Editor PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU.
When James Eneche, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) joined the Nigeria Police in 1989, he believed in the promise of a better life after service. His dream was to retire into agro-business with his pension savings. But, after retiring in June 2024, he was told he might wait up to two years before he receives his benefits, and even then, the over N6 million in his RSA might not come in full.
Esther Marcos, another retired DSP, received N1.7 million in gratuity after 35 years and a N40,000 monthly pension. She spoke out in January 2024, drawing attention to the inadequacies of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
These experiences reflect the broader plight of retired police officers who feel abandoned by a country they served loyally. Discontent about the CPS did not start at present. For decades, police retirees have lamented that the system was shortchanging them, clamouring for an exit from the scheme such as the military, Department of State Services (DSS), and National Intelligence Agency (NIA) did.
But it appeared the system paid deaf ears to their complaints while the police retirees continue to live in abject poverty, unable to meet their basic needs and those of their immediate families.
The tipping point came with a viral video of a retired Superintendent of Police who rejected N3 million as total pension, decrying it as an insult to his 35 years of service. His outrage became a rallying cry, leading to widespread protests and public outcry.
Wave of protests
On July 21, 2025, under the banner of the National Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria (NARPON), retirees protested across Abuja, Edo, Plateau and Kwara states. Braving heavy rain, many marched to the Force Headquarters and National Assembly with placards. Others protested online, flooding social media with their stories.
Among them was DSP Eneche, who accused pension administrators of withholding money saved during service. He rejected the proposal to split his funds into gratuity and monthly pension, insisting on full payment.
“I am sick. I need treatment. If they give me half of the money, it can’t treat me. Should I die, then my pension stops and the money goes to who?” he asked.
Festus Ogbebo, a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) echoed these frustrations, lamenting how his N30,000 pension contrasts sharply with army counterparts earning over N150,000.
Also, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Azzez Bello, who retired on April 15, 2023, wondered why he was paid N3,650,000 five months ago, in contrast to his coursemates, who received over N6 million in total benefits.
“I don’t know what I have done. I was only told when I went to the pension office at Oduduwa that the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) did not remit my money contributed for the whole 11 years. I don’t know whether I am the one to suffer negligence on the part of the IPPIS. I will be happy if my remaining balance is paid into my account,” he said.
Bello also wondered why he had yet to receive his resettlement allowance from the NPF Pension to date. CSP Onebola Ahmed (rtd) also complained about non-receipt of his benefits.
Other retirees narrated similar ordeals-gratuities between N2.8 million and N3.1 million, and monthly pensions of N30,000–N48,000. Many said the amounts couldn’t even cover their medical bills. A retired CSP shared how he relocated his family to the village due to financial constraints, stating that “we are living from hand to mouth.”
Emmanuel Frederick, who retired as Superintendent of Police (SP) in July 2024, refused to accept N2.8 million as gratuity.
“I cannot accept this. After 35 years of service, this is an injustice,” he said. Many retirees believe the CPS favours officers from AIG upwards while condemning lower ranks to destitution.
Inside the Police Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS)
According to The Nation’s findings, police officers contribute eight per cent of their salaries to the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), with the Federal Government adding 10 per cent (totalling 18 per cent) in line with the 2014 Pension Reform Act. But retirees allege their entitlements are either delayed or not paid in full. Some have waited up to nine years.
Under the CPS, monthly pensions range from N18,000 to N75,000 for retirees from Inspector to Commissioner ranks. Meanwhile, senior officers such as Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIGs) and Inspector-General of Police (IGPs) retire under a different scheme, enjoying lump sum severance and full pensions.
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Police retirees, who joined the service before 2004 and remained under the old Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), fare much better, adding to the frustration of their counterparts under the CPS scheme.
Many ex-officers insist the two-year minimum wait time for benefits under CPS has led to hardship and, in many cases, death from hunger or illness.
To manage these issues, NPF Pensions Limited was established in 2014 to oversee Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs) for police personnel. As of 2023, it managed over N900 billion for more than 300,000 active and retired members of staff. But the structure remains widely criticised.
Retired Commissioner of Police (CP) Aderemi Adeoye noted on a live programme that many depend on their gratuities to start businesses, only to be disappointed. “Many die off before the money comes. When it eventually does, it’s paid in bits. The monthly amounts are paltry,” he said.
The N758 billion question
NARPON has commended PenCom’s recent upward review of pension payouts but expressed concern over the delayed approval of N758 billion pension liabilities pending before the National Assembly. They argue the delay hinders the full implementation of the improved benefits.
The group is pushing for an increase in federal contributions to 20 per cent as required under Section 4 of the Pension Reform Act. NARPON also recommends a 300 per cent gratuity model, similar to what was obtainable under the DBS.
The association further called for a dedicated Additional Pension Benefits Scheme under the Police Act 2020, like those used by the CBN and NNPC.
While urging calm, NARPON maintains that reform-rather than abandoning the CPS altogether-might be the better path forward, provided structural changes are made to improve its effectiveness.
What the law says
Section 173(2) and (3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended mandates that pensions be reviewed every five years or whenever salaries of serving officers increase. But the CPS introduced in 2004 and amended in 2014, replaced gratuities with a lump sum or life annuity from insurance providers-leaving police retirees without benefits accrued under the old DBS.
While the military, DSS and NIA were exempted from the CPS via Section 5(1)(a) of the Act, the police-despite their internal security mandate-were not. Police retirees have since submitted several petitions to the National Assembly for exemption, but PenCom and pension administrators argue that exempting the service would burden the government with an estimated N1.8 trillion annually, and over N5 trillion in long-term liabilities.
However, retirees counter that continued inclusion violates Sections 17(3) (f) and 34(1) (a) of the Constitution, which guarantee social justice and dignity.
The National Coordinator for Police Retirees under CPS, SP Christopher Effiong (rtd), criticised PenCom’s justification. “PenCom boasts N21 trillion in assets from our contributions but complains about N3 trillion to settle us. We’ve protested, petitioned, and appeared at investigative hearings- yet nothing has changed,” he said.
During a meeting with NARPON representatives, IGP Kayode Egbetokun assured retirees of the Force’s empathy. He said that the welfare of retired officers was recently discussed with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
While acknowledging the CPS’s failures, the IGP didn’t commit to a definitive exit but signaled his support for reforms. “If exiting CPS will solve the problem, I’ll go for it,” he said, while cautioning that legal and procedural barriers exist.
Egbetokun urged retirees not to see CPS as a dead-end, noting his ongoing efforts to explore both exit options and internal improvements to better their welfare within the existing legal framework.
Retired CP Adeoye believes the police should exit CPS and align with military-style pension schemes. “A DSP earns far less than an Army Captain post-retirement. That injustice must be corrected,” he said. He added that while the House of Representatives is reviewing a bill to establish a separate Police Pension Board, implementation is crucial.
Human rights lawyer Monday Ubani (SAN) said the retirees’ agitation highlights the CPS’s structural failures. “If DSS and military personnel have exited, the police should too. They face similar risks and deserve equitable treatment,” he said.
Ubani emphasised that the CPS was well-intentioned but poorly implemented. He said the government must ensure retirees have access to their money without delay or complexity.
The Executive Director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani, called for a transparent and accountable pension structure. “You can’t keep someone’s money, use it for investment, and then deny them access when they need it. It creates resentment,” he said.
Rafsanjani warned that neglecting police retirees could lead to national insecurity. “Some retired officers may become informants to criminals out of frustration. We must fix this before it becomes a bigger threat,” he concluded.
