Retired Chief Superintendent of Police, Raphael Irowainu, National Coordinator of the Police Retired Officers Forum (PROF), has raised alarm over the dire pension conditions facing retired police officers, describing the situation as life-threatening for many.

Irowainu explained that police retirees have been kept under a contributory pension scheme introduced in 2004 by the government, while other security agencies, including the military, DSS, and EFCC, left the scheme in 2017. According to him, this decision has left retirees with meagre monthly pensions—for example, an ASP receives about N24,000, a CSP about N50,000, and even a CP only around N75,000 per month.

“The pension system has reduced retired officers to subhuman conditions,” Irowainu said. “Many live in abject poverty, struggle to educate their children, and some have even resorted to begging. Several have died due to these harsh conditions.”

He warned of broader security risks, noting that retirees are trained in intelligence, weapon handling, and crime prevention, and neglecting their welfare could expose them to criminal activities or sabotage.

Irowainu criticized delays in government action, noting that although the House of Representatives passed an amendment bill to address the pension crisis, the Senate has yet to act. He also highlighted that insurance payouts to deceased officers’ families are slow and inadequate, taking years in some cases.

“Neglecting the police directly affects national security,” he stressed. “The Police are the frontline agency for internal security. Until their welfare is prioritized, insecurity will persist, and the burden of enforcement will unfairly fall on the public.”

He called on Nigerians, traditional and religious leaders, and opinion leaders to pressure the government to reform the police pension system urgently.