The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has restated his commitment to improving the welfare of retired police officers under the Contributory Pension Scheme, assuring them that their grievances are not being ignored by the force’s leadership.
Egbetokun gave the assurance while addressing a group of protesting retired officers at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Monday, July 21, 2025.
“We understand your pain,” the IGP told the aggrieved retirees. “We empathize with you because we, too, will one day retire. That’s why I’ve been engaging relevant authorities at the highest level to improve the condition of our retired personnel.”
The police chief disclosed that he had just concluded a meeting with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, where the plight of retired officers was part of the agenda. He emphasized that efforts are ongoing, although not all actions can be disclosed publicly.
“There are steps we’ve taken, but I may not share all the details in the presence of the media,” Egbetokun stated. “However, I want to assure you that we are not folding our arms. We’re actively working to find solutions.”
Amid ongoing agitation by the retirees for the police to exit the CPS, the IGP clarified his stance on the issue, saying he is not opposed to the demand.
“I have never been against exiting the CPS,” he said. “If exiting the scheme will solve the problem, I am fully in support. But we must also be realistic. The call to leave the CPS has been ongoing for 11 years, and it hasn’t yielded results.”
Egbetokun explained that while previous Inspectors-General had also pushed for an exit, the final decision is beyond the power of any single individual in the police hierarchy.
“This agitation dates back to 2014,” he noted. “Every IG has made efforts to achieve it, but it requires more than our institutional will. What’s most important now is ensuring that retired officers can live with dignity after their years of service.”
He also warned the protesting retirees against being manipulated by external influences, saying, “Don’t allow anyone to exploit your frustrations for their own interests. Be cautious of those who pretend to support your cause but may not genuinely care about your wellbeing.”
Egbetokun added that beyond exiting the CPS, the focus should be on reforming the scheme itself to ensure it delivers better outcomes for retired officers.
“Some have misunderstood me,” he explained. “I’ve only said that while we keep pushing to leave the CPS, we must also explore ways to improve it from within to ensure our retirees are happy.”
The Inspector-General reiterated that the police force remains committed to securing a better future for its retirees and urged them to remain united and hopeful as efforts continue to address their concerns.
