Amid ongoing nationwide protests by retired police personnels over their post-service conditions, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has openly acknowledged the poor treatment of police retirees, warning that it is negatively affecting the morale of serving officers.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, Egbetokun expressed deep concern over the unacceptable living standards of many former officers, describing their circumstances as degrading and distressing.
“Many retired officers live in situations that are both unacceptable and degrading, despite the sacrifices they made while serving the country,” he said.
He particularly criticised the inadequacy of the monthly pensions provided under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), arguing that they fall far short of covering basic necessities.
“The pension payments are extremely low and fail to meet essential living needs like healthcare, housing, and overall dignity,” he added.
Egbetokun affirmed his strong personal commitment to improving the welfare of retired officers, describing their current plight as “morally troubling” and “deeply saddening.”
“I am fully committed to addressing the post-retirement challenges faced by our officers under the CPS. The hardship they endure after years of service is deeply unfair and has turned retirement into a time of struggle, rather than rest. This reality is also lowering the morale of active officers who now fear retirement,” he said.
He noted that the fear of facing hardship after service has become widespread within the police force.
“There’s growing fear among active officers that retirement leads to a life of suffering. This belief—whether true or not—is harming morale across the ranks,” he noted.
Egbetokun also acknowledged that previous efforts to inform officers about the workings of the CPS have often been met with suspicion.
“Attempts to explain the scheme are frequently seen as efforts to trap officers in a flawed system,” he explained.
He revealed that he had recently addressed these concerns in a letter to the National Assembly, urging for cautious and well-considered reforms.
“I emphasized the need for thoughtful decisions as we consider reforms. While the call to exit the CPS is valid, it must be handled carefully,” he said.
The police chief advised officers to avoid making hasty choices, stating, “I urged our personnel to thoroughly consider their options before seeking to exit the scheme.”
His remarks follow similar concerns raised by former Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, who described the pension scheme as exploitative.
In a video interview monitored by SaharaReporters, Baba criticised the structure, saying, “It’s as though the system expects you to be dead after 10 years of retirement. Even senior officers don’t receive more than N100,000 a month.”
On July 21, retired officers across Nigeria staged protests, demanding urgent reforms to the pension system and improved welfare for those who served in maintaining national security.
