The Nigeria Police Force says it will ensure full security for retired officers planning a peaceful protest over pension entitlements on Monday, July 21.
Force spokesperson, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement Saturday, acknowledged the agitation but warned against political manipulation.
“While some of these accounts are grounded in fact and driven by good faith, others have been marred by misinformation, emotional manipulation, and calculated distortions designed to discredit the government,” he said.
He described the demand to exit the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) as a long-standing issue dating back to 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,” Adejobi said.
He noted that the current police leadership is adopting a dual approach: backing the demand in principle while seeking short-term solutions, such as using internally generated revenue to provide supplementary pension benefits and courting private sector support.
“These interventions are already underway and reflect a broader, more holistic strategy to elevate the welfare of our retired personnel,” he added.
Adejobi stressed the protest is not being suppressed, saying, “Let it be stated unequivocally that this explanation is not intended to suppress the planned protest. On the contrary, it reflects a leadership that listens, understands, and engages in good faith.”
The Inspector-General of Police has directed Commissioners of Police in the FCT and affected states to secure the protest, ensure order, and prevent hijack by non-retired actors.
“This protest… 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,” the IGP stated.
He also warned serving officers against being misled by “those who either are ignorant of the ethics of our profession or are up for manipulations and disruption.”
