IGP Egbetokun assures retired officers of reforms, says Police not abandoning pension struggles

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s (NPF) commitment to improving the welfare of retired officers under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), amid growing protests by pensioners demanding the force’s exit from the scheme.

On Monday, scores of retired police officers, many elderly and visibly distressed, staged coordinated protests at the National Assembly complex and Police Force Headquarters in Abuja, decrying the hardship and uncertainty they face under the current pension framework.

Carrying placards with bold messages, the pensioners insisted that the CPS has failed to guarantee financial security after years of service. Their central demand: remove the police from the contributory pension scheme.

Addressing the protesting retirees at the Force Headquarters, IGP Egbetokun expressed deep empathy, acknowledging their grievances and assuring them that steps are being taken to improve their situation.

“We all feel concerned. We empathise with you because we are also going to retire one day. I have been engaging at the highest level to ensure something is done to improve the condition of the poor pensioner,” the IGP said.

Egbetokun revealed that he had just returned from a meeting with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, during which the poor state of police pensions was a primary topic of discussion.

“Even right now, I was just coming from a meeting with the NSA. The subject matter was the poor pension of retired officers. We are taking steps to alleviate your suffering in retirement,” he added.

While the IGP declined to provide specifics on ongoing reform efforts, he assured the retirees that multiple strategies were under consideration.

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“We are not folding our arms. We are doing a lot behind the scenes to make sure that something is done. Please be patient,” he said.

However, Egbetokun also urged caution, warning retirees not to allow external agitators or political actors to manipulate their genuine struggle for selfish ends.

“Don’t allow the enemies of the police to use you. Be suspicious of those who pretend to be on your side. They may not mean well for you,” he warned.

On the demand for the police to exit the CPS, the IGP made his position clear: he is not opposed to the idea—if it truly resolves the pension crisis.

“I’m not opposed to the police exiting the CPS. If leaving the scheme will solve the problem, I will go for it. But for 11 years, we’ve agitated to leave, and it hasn’t worked,” Egbetokun explained.

He added that despite efforts by previous Inspectors-General since 2014, none had succeeded in getting the police removed from the CPS, as such a move is beyond the authority of any single IGP.

“All previous IGs have tried. But exiting the CPS is not within the powers of an IGP. It requires legislative and systemic changes,” he emphasized.

Egbetokun stressed that while the CPS is flawed in its current implementation, it could still offer decent pensions if properly managed and restructured.

“Even within the CPS, with the right reforms, we can ensure better payouts and satisfaction for retirees. People have misinterpreted my position as opposition to exiting the CPS. That is not true,” he clarified.

“What I’ve said is: since the effort to exit CPS hasn’t succeeded for over a decade, let’s also pursue alternative reforms within the scheme to secure better outcomes for our retirees.”

The IGP concluded by assuring the protesters that he remains actively engaged in finding workable and lasting solutions to pension-related hardships affecting retired police officers nationwide.