IGP Egbetokun assures retired police officers of action to ease pension struggles under CPS scheme.
He says reforms are ongoing and urges retirees not to fall for misleading external influences.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has restated the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to improving the well-being of retired officers who are facing difficulties under the current Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
Speaking during a recent meeting at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the police chief addressed a gathering of retired officers who expressed concerns about poor pension benefits and the challenges they face after years of service. Egbetokun assured them that the issue is being taken seriously at the highest level of government and emphasized that the concerns of retired officers are equally shared by those still in active service.
He explained that he had just returned from a meeting with the National Security Adviser, where the subject of retired police officers’ welfare was one of the main topics discussed. The IGP noted that even though some internal efforts are ongoing, not all steps taken so far could be shared publicly.
According to him, many measures have already been introduced to tackle the long-standing problem of inadequate pensions, and more are underway. He stated that although results may not be immediate, efforts are being made behind the scenes to ease the burden faced by retirees.
Egbetokun also cautioned the retired officers to remain careful and not allow themselves to be used by individuals or groups who may have hidden motives. He urged them to stay united and avoid being influenced by outsiders who might exploit their situation for personal or political reasons.
Addressing the repeated calls by retirees for the police to be removed from the CPS, Egbetokun clarified that he is not against the idea. In fact, he expressed support for any move that would lead to better pension outcomes for retired officers. However, he pointed out that the request to exit the scheme has been ongoing for more than a decade and has faced many hurdles. According to him, the authority to approve such a move lies beyond the office of the Inspector-General.
He explained that several previous police chiefs have tried to make progress on the issue, but none has succeeded so far, due to limitations in their powers. Therefore, while he remains open to the idea of exiting the CPS, he believes that other possible solutions should also be explored to improve the situation.
The IGP stressed that what truly matters is not whether the police remain in or leave the CPS, but rather the need to ensure that retired officers enjoy a decent life after their service. He believes that reforms can still be made within the existing pension structure to bring relief to the affected officers.
He acknowledged that some of his comments in the past have been misunderstood, especially regarding his views on CPS. However, he made it clear that his goal has always been to find the best way forward, whether through leaving the scheme or improving it from within.
To conclude, Egbetokun reassured the retirees that their welfare remains a top concern for the police leadership and that work is ongoing to find lasting solutions to their pension struggles.
