By Maurice Charles
As anxiety brews over the structure of retirement benefits for personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, and whispers of protest grow louder ahead of July 21st, it is important to take a step back, not in fear or frustration, but in reflection.
The discontent is understandable. After years of loyal service, often under strenuous and life-threatening conditions, many police officers retire to a system that seems slow in reciprocating their sacrifices. The frustration is not just about figures on a pension slip; it is about recognition, dignity, and security in the years after service.
But amidst the tension, it is crucial to consider that hope may not lie in abandoning the current Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), but in insisting that it works better, smarter, and more fairly for the Nigeria Police.
From reliable sources within regulatory and policy circles, there is increasing movement toward measures that could radically improve the retirement experience of police personnel under the CPS. One such source confirms that recommendations are already before the Federal Government to increase its share of contributions to the Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs) of police officers from 10% to 20%. When combined with the 8% already deducted from officers’ salaries, this would bring the monthly contribution to 28% – a significant boost with far-reaching implications for take-home pension benefits.
Additionally, there are ongoing conversations at the national level to approve over ₦750 billion in outstanding pension shortfalls accumulated over several years. The release of these funds, if achieved, would be a monumental step toward restoring confidence in the system and uplifting the morale of both serving and retired officers.
It also bears mentioning that a 100% gratuity payment at retirement has been proposed for public sector retirees under the CPS, police officers inclusive. This provision, if adopted, will provide that much-needed financial cushion during the transition from active duty to civilian life, easing the most vulnerable period of post-retirement living.
Beyond federal-level reforms, the Nigeria Police Force itself is empowered by the Police Act 2020 to establish supplementary pension benefit schemes. Other government agencies with internally generated revenue, such as the CBN and NNPC, have used similar structures to great effect. If implemented by the Police, this could offer an additional layer of financial safety for retirees.
While public debates have sought to place blame on leadership, particularly on the Inspector-General of Police, it is essential to set the record straight. Since assuming office, IGP Kayode Egbetokun has shown a visible commitment to improving police welfare. Through the revitalised Police Insurance Scheme, numerous families of officers who died in active service have received cheques and support—often publicly and promptly. These gestures may not resolve all systemic issues, but they reflect an administration that is attentive to the personal cost of service and committed to mitigating it. Rather than turning a blind eye, the current leadership appears to be working within institutional limits to strengthen internal support systems for officers—serving and retired.
These developments may not solve every problem overnight, but they point to a system that is flexible, responsive, and capable of reform. The CPS, for all its current limitations, provides transparency, is backed by law, and protects against the delays and irregularities that plagued the old Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS). More importantly, it is a system that grows with investment and participation.
What the moment demands is constructive engagement, not confrontation. Protest, however well-intentioned, may risk clouding the promising gains being negotiated quietly but steadily behind the scenes. Policemen and women deserve a system that works, but they also deserve the truth: that the system can work, and indeed is beginning to—provided all hands remain on deck.
For every officer who has worn the uniform with pride, for every family that has endured the demands of duty, the future must not be built on reaction, but on resolve. The CPS, with the right reforms, may yet become the safety net every police officer has hoped for. Now is the time to give that hope a chance to mature into lasting change.
