Retired police officer rejects N3m pension after 35 years, sparks public outrage

A retired Superintendent of Police has stirred widespread outrage and renewed debate over the treatment of Nigerian public servants following retirement, after rejecting a N3 million retirement benefit paid to him for 35 years of service.

In a viral video that surfaced over the weekend, the visibly emotional officer, who withheld his name, said he retired from the Nigeria Police Force on October 1, 2023, after what he described as decades of loyal and dedicated service to the nation.

However, he expressed deep disappointment after the Police Pension Board recently informed him that his total entitlement was a mere ₦3 million—N1 million as arrears and ₦2 million as his final retirement benefit.

“Just two weeks ago, they called me and said they were going to pay me three million naira. For what?” he asked in the video, barely able to contain his frustration.

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“One million is supposed to be arrears from October 2023 till date. Two million is my entitlement. I cannot serve this country for 35 good years and be paid just two million naira. The devil is a liar.”

The retired officer passionately called on the Inspector General of Police and the Federal Government to intervene and address what he described as a “national disgrace.”

He insisted he would not accept the amount, describing it as an insult to the sacrifices he made during his career.

“I am not a rich man,” he said. “I had hoped that after serving this country, I would have something reasonable to take home. But after retirement, all the police could give me was two million naira? I want the whole world to hear this—two million naira for a Superintendent of Police after 35 years of service?”

The former officer did not mince words as he vowed to take matters into his own hands, saying he would fight the injustice the way he deemed fit if the authorities failed to act.

His video has since sparked outrage across social media, with many Nigerians condemning the state of the country’s pension system and calling for urgent reforms to ensure that those who dedicate their lives to public service are treated with dignity in retirement.

The Nigeria Police Force and the Pension Commission are yet to issue an official response to the viral video as of press time.