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NIGERIAN POLICE OFFICERS SET FOR NATIONWIDE STRIKE OVER ‘SLAVERY’ PENSION SCHEME
Some aggrieved officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), have issued a daredevil nationwide strike threat over what they described as the “slavery-like” nature of the current pension arrangement.
The disgruntled officers are demanding urgent reforms and have given President Bola Tinubu administration until the end of July to address their concerns or face a crippling shutdown of police operations across the country.
They issued the threat and the ultimatum in an open letter addressed to President Tinubu, the Vice President, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Ministry of Police Affairs, the Police Service Commission, the Inspector-General of Police and Nigerians.
In the strongly-worded letter issued on Tuesday and obtained by SaharaReporters, the officers accused the Nigerian Government of deliberate negligence despite being aware of “the slavery pension scheme police officers have been made to suffer for many years now.”
They demanded that their pension and gratuities be changed to the defined benefits pension plan as obtainable in the Nigerian military, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Investigation Agency (NIA), among others.
The aggrieved police officers who gave the Nigerian government till July ending to act on their demand vowed to shut down the nation if the government fails to meet their demand, threatening to kill or maim any police officer seen in uniform during the strike action.
“This shouldn’t come as a surprise to you all, because you are all aware of the slavery pension scheme police officers have been made to suffer for many years now,” they stated.
“We are saying enough is enough. Therefore, we are giving between now and next month ending for the government to change our pension and gratuities to the defined benefits pension plan like the military, EFCC, NIA, others.
“If the government fails to implement this, it will definitely experience another mother of all strikes from August 1, 2025. Mark our words.
“During this strike, if any officer found in uniform performing any duties, he or she may lose his or her lives, or remain maimed for life. A word is enough for the wise.”
The Contributory Pension Scheme was introduced in 2004 through the Pension Reform Act to replace the old Defined Benefits Scheme.
Under the CPS, both employers and employees contribute a portion of the worker’s salary to a Retirement Savings Account managed by private Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).
While designed to be more sustainable, the scheme has faced criticism from several quarters, particularly among personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and paramilitary agencies, who have alleged that it leaves them financially vulnerable upon retirement.
Efforts to exempt the police from the CPS gained momentum in 2022 and 2023 with multiple legislative bills and public advocacy, but no comprehensive reform has been implemented to date.
The Nigeria Police Force, with over 300,000 personnel, is the largest security agency in the country.
A nationwide strike could have far-reaching implications for national security, especially amid rising insecurity in several regions.
However, the presidency and the Ministry of Police Affairs are yet to issue a formal response to the ultimatum.
As the July deadline looms, tension is building within the police ranks and across national security circles.
