The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has directed all Commissioners of Police and senior commands across the country to restrain serving officers from making public statements regarding the ongoing controversy surrounding poor police pensions.
This directive follows widespread outrage over a viral video showing a visibly distraught retired Superintendent of Police (SP), who rejected a ₦2 million gratuity after serving the Nigeria Police Force for 35 years.
According to a confidential wireless message obtained by the media on Thursday, the IGP acknowledged the growing public anger and discontent among retired officers, describing the situation as a systemic issue that needs attention.
The signal, titled CH:8475/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.14/23 X PENSION SCHEME, stated:
“INGENPOL’S ATTENTION HAS BEEN DRAWN TO THE VIRAL VIDEO OF A RTD SP X LAMENTING THE PAYMENT X OF N2 MILLION AS GRATUITY X INGENPOL IS MOVED BY THE LAMENTATION OF THE RTD SP X HE HAS DIRECTED DISCREET INVESTIGATION INTO THE CLAIM OF THE RETIRED OFFICER X THE OUTCOME OF INVESTIGATION WILL SOON BE MADE PUBLIC.”
The IGP’s statement also acknowledged general complaints over poor pension payments to retired police officers nationwide.
“INGENPOL IS ALSO CONCERNED X ABOUT THE GENERAL COMPLAINT OF POOR PENSION FOR POLICE OFFICERS X HE HAS BEEN ENGAGING AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL X TO ENSURE THAT POLICE OFFICERS ARE HAPPY IN RETIREMENT X A FORCEWIDE BROADCAST BY INGENPOL WILL SOON BE MADE ON THIS ISSUE,” the message added.
However, alongside promises of reform, the IGP issued a stern gag order, warning all officers to refrain from making public statements that could portray the police in a negative light.
“INGENPOL THEREFORE DIRECTS YOU WARN OFFICERS/MEN YOURS X TO REFRAIN FROM MAKING UNGUIDED PUBLIC STATEMENT X THAT COULD PORTRAY OUR ORGANIZATION IN A NEGATIVE OR UNPROFESSIONAL LIGHT X ALL OFFICERS TO REMAIN CALM X MAINTAIN SERVICE DISCIPLINE X PROFESSIONALISM X IN ALL INTERACTIONS WITH THE PUBLIC X UPHOLDING THE INTEGRITY OF THE NIGERIA POLICE FORCE,” the signal read.
Furthermore, the IGP instructed that this issue be incorporated into internal training lectures across all police formations and that state commands engage retired officers to keep them informed.
“HE FURTHER DIRECTS X YOU MAKE THIS SUBJECT OF LECTURE IN AOR YOURS X COMPOL ALL STATES ONLY X INGENPOL DIRECTS X YOU ENGAGE ALL POLICE RETIREES RESIDENT YOURS X WITH A VIEW TO KEEPING THEM IN THE LOOP OF THIS DEVELOPMENT X ALL TO CONFIRM COMPLIANCE BY RETURN SIGNAL X TREAT AS VERY IMPORTANT.”
The directive comes after the viral video of the retired SP, who retired on October 1, 2023, rejecting the ₦2 million pension payout. The officer emotionally described the payment as both unfair and humiliating:
“I cannot serve this country for 35 good years and be paid just two million naira. The devil is a liar. Please, let the Inspector-General of Police hear this,” he said.
“Even if your brother is a Superintendent of Police today and he’s told to go home with two million naira as retirement benefit—ask yourself if that’s fair. I will not collect that money. Let my service be in vain if that’s how they want it.”
The video triggered widespread condemnation on social media, with many Nigerians expressing solidarity and outrage over the decades-long neglect of police retirees.
This is not the first time such grievances have surfaced. In January, the media reported the case of Esther Marcos, a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), who revealed she received just ₦1.7 million as gratuity after 35 years of service. Marcos said the meager payment was made more than a year after her retirement in November 2018, and she waited an additional three months before receiving her ₦40,000 monthly pension.
Such stories reflect a long-standing crisis within the police pension system. For over a decade, retired police personnel have consistently protested delayed, inadequate, and unfair pension payments under Nigeria’s contributory pension scheme.
While the IGP’s latest directive signals official recognition of the crisis, critics argue that internal investigations and broadcasts are not enough. They are calling for urgent legislative action and systemic reforms to restructure the pension framework and restore dignity to retired law enforcement officers.
Source: @Sahara reporter.
