Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has pledged full security support for retired police officers planning a peaceful protest over pension issues.
At the same time, he cautioned against attempts by political actors to manipulate the retirees’ grievances for personal or disruptive agendas.
In a statement released Sunday by Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, the IGP condemned efforts to politicise the situation, saying it undermines both the police institution and public trust.
“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. Their tactics involve twisting facts, inflaming sentiments, and sowing distrust in the public space. These actions do a disservice not only to our noble institution but to the integrity of public discourse in our country.”
The protest, described as “the mother of all peaceful protests,” is scheduled to take place on Monday, July 21, across the Federal Capital Territory and other states.
To ensure a smooth exercise, the IGP has instructed Commissioners of Police nationwide to uphold the rights of retirees and guarantee their protection.
Adejobi noted “The Inspector-General of Police has directed all Commissioners of Police to ensure the peaceful conduct of the protest within their jurisdictions, especially in the FCT and other states where formal notice has been received; provide adequate security coverage to our retired colleagues who have chosen to publicly express their grievances; prevent any hijack of the protest by miscreants, political actors, or non-retired agitators; sensitise officers and men under their command on the constitutional rights to peaceful assembly, and the obligation to show utmost respect to our retired colleagues; while deploying intelligence and operational resources to protect lives, maintain public order, and safeguard institutional integrity.”
He further appealed to the organisers and participants to maintain decorum.
“The Inspector-General of Police charges all officers to note that this protest, described as ‘the mother of all peaceful protests’, must not only be peaceful; it must be exemplary, and as such should stand as a national model for dignified expression of grievance and responsible public order management,” Adejobi said.
“We must show, by conduct and command, that the Nigeria Police Force is both professional and humane. He further reiterates that this is more than a directive; it is a call to institutional responsibility, a test of our maturity, our values, and our discipline.”
Addressing the substance of the protest, Adejobi clarified that the call to exit the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) is not new. He explained that the struggle for improved pension terms has been ongoing for over a decade.
“The agitation for improved police pensions, particularly the call for exit from the CPS, is not a recent development. It has spanned over a decade. Since 2014, successive Inspectors-General of Police have demonstrated empathy, engaged critical stakeholders, and provided institutional support for this cause. Yet, despite these earnest efforts, the desired outcome has remained elusive; not for lack of will, but due to entrenched legal provisions, fiscal limitations, and administrative bottlenecks,” he said.
Nonetheless, he revealed that the current police leadership is actively working on alternative solutions to ease the financial burden on retirees.
These include tapping into internally generated revenue and forming partnerships with private sector entities for targeted pension support.
According to Adejobi, economic projections suggest that the benefits of the pension scheme will improve with time, especially for those retiring within the next five years.
