The International Human Rights Commission (IHRC), Nigeria, has called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently reform the current pension scheme for retired police officers, describing it as unconstitutional and unjust.
This appeal was made in a diplomatic memo titled “A Diplomatic Appeal for Police Pension Welfare Reform in Line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” addressed to the President and released on Saturday.
According to the statement signed by IHRC’s Head of Media and Strategic Communications, Fidelis Onakpoma, the current Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) under which police personnel retire falls short of constitutional standards and exposes thousands of retired officers to hardship.
Ambassador Duru Hezekiah, the Head of Mission for IHRC, emphasized the commission’s support for the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, who has been leading calls for a review of the pension structure.
“The ongoing advocacy for a fair and just pension arrangement for police retirees aligns with constitutional principles that protect dignity and social welfare for public servants,” Hezekiah said.
Citing Sections 17(3)(f) and 34(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the IHRC stressed that the Nigerian government has a legal and moral duty to provide adequate welfare for retired officers an obligation it is currently neglecting.
The commission criticized the disparity between military and police retirees, noting that while the military is exempt from the CPS and enjoys better retirement benefits, police officers continue to face financial insecurity after years of service under dangerous conditions.
“The existing pension system is unjust and unsuitable for the nature of police work. These officers put their lives on the line for national security and should not be abandoned after retirement,” the commission stated.
This intervention followed a meeting held on July 1, 2025, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja. The gathering was convened by IGP Egbetokun and included representatives from the National Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria and the Coalition of CPS Retirees.
During the meeting, the IGP reiterated his commitment to securing a better pension framework, calling the current system a “gross injustice.”
“Our retirees deserve a dignified and secure retirement. The current pension arrangement does not reflect the sacrifices made by police personnel,” Egbetokun said.
The IHRC urged the Tinubu administration to take concrete steps in line with its Renewed Hope Agenda to address the long-standing pension disparities and restore dignity to Nigeria’s police veterans.
“This is not just a policy matter—it is a constitutional responsibility. The time to act is now,” the commission concluded.
