The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to addressing the concerns of retired officers under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
Speaking during a meeting with protesting retirees at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the IGP expressed deep empathy, stating that the poor state of police pensions remains a pressing issue for both retired and serving officers.
“We all feel concerned. We empathise with you because we too will retire one day,” Egbetokun said. “I’ve been engaging at the highest levels to improve the condition of pensioners.”
The IG revealed that he had just left a meeting with National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, where the welfare of retired officers was discussed. While refraining from sharing certain details publicly, he assured the retirees that the police leadership is actively working on solutions.
“There are steps being taken behind the scenes, and while I cannot share all details now, I want to assure you we’re not sitting idly by,” he said.
However, Egbetokun warned the ex-officers against allowing external influences to hijack their cause.
“Don’t allow the enemies of the police to use you,” he cautioned. “Be wary of those who pretend to be allies they may not have your best interests at heart.”
Addressing concerns about his stance on withdrawing the police from the CPS, Egbetokun clarified.
“I am not opposed to exiting the CPS. If that’s what will solve the problem, I support it. But the reality is that this has been an ongoing demand for over 11 years without success.”
He explained that while past Inspector-Generals also tried to exit the scheme, the process involves multiple stakeholders and cannot be decided by a single individual.
“The push to leave CPS has been ongoing since 2014. Every IG since then has made efforts, but it’s beyond the powers of just the police leadership,” he noted. “Our main concern is ensuring retirees live a decent life after decades of service.”
Egbetokun emphasized that reforms can still improve pension conditions even within the CPS framework.
“People have misunderstood my position. I never said we must remain in CPS. What I’ve said is that whether within or outside CPS, we must find ways to ensure better pension outcomes.”
He said his administration is now exploring alternative solutions to improve retirement conditions, even as efforts to exit the CPS continue.
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