The Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has assured retired police officers of adequate security and respect for their rights as they prepare to embark on a peaceful protest against the current Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), scheduled to take place on Monday, July 21, 2025.
The Police expressed understanding of the grievances of its retired personnel and reaffirmed its commitment to their welfare, while cautioning against the politicisation and hijack of the planned protest.
In a Statement issued on Sunday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on behalf of the IGP, the police disclosed that the agitation for exit from the CPS is not a recent development but a decade-long struggle that has received institutional support from successive police leaderships.
Adejobi noted that efforts to address the demands have been hampered by statutory limitations, inter-agency constraints, and policy rigidity.
“The issue of police exit from the CPS is deeply embedded in law and administrative frameworks. It is not within the unilateral powers of the IGP to effect this change, but the leadership has continued to advocate through appropriate channels,” the statement read.
He disclosed that the Force is pursuing alternative welfare-enhancing mechanisms, including the utilisation of internally generated revenues to provide supplementary pension support, and engagement with the private sector to launch targeted pension relief initiatives for retirees.
Adejobi expressed concern over what it described as deliberate attempts by certain individuals to manipulate the situation for political and disruptive purposes. “It is disheartening to see legitimate welfare concerns weaponised for ulterior motives. These actions only serve to undermine institutional integrity and mislead the public,” the Force stated.
The IGP has therefore directed Commissioners of Police across the country, especially in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to ensure that the protest proceeds peacefully and without interference, while protecting the rights of retirees participating in the demonstration.
“Officers must show utmost respect to our retired colleagues. The protest must be exemplary peaceful, disciplined, and a model of responsible civic engagement. The dignity of those who served must be preserved at all costs,” the IGP ordered.
The statement further warned serving officers against being misled or drawn into any form of conduct that violates the ethics of the Force, emphasizing that while the protest is permitted, internal discipline and command structure must not be compromised.
The Police Force concluded by reaffirming its support for the concerns raised by retirees and assured that advocacy for improved pension outcomes will continue at the highest levels.
