IHRC backs IGP Egbetokun’s push for Police pension reform, urges Tinubu to address constitutional breach in contributory pension scheme

The International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) Nigeria has declared its strong support for the renewed advocacy of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, for a comprehensive reform of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) as it affects retired members of the Nigeria Police Force.

In a formal diplomatic communication to the Presidency titled “A Diplomatic Appeal for Police Pension Welfare Reform in Line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the IHRC through its Head of Mission, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Duru Hezekiah urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and redress what it described as a constitutional violation in the current pension arrangement for Police officers.

The Commission cited Sections 17(3)(f) and 34(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which compel the state to ensure the dignity, wellbeing, and adequate social support of all public officers, including retired security personnel. 

According to the IHRC, the CPS in its present form fails to meet these constitutional standards, leaving thousands of retired Police officers in hardship and indignity.

This intervention follows a recent engagement held on July 1, 2025, at Force Headquarters, Abuja, where IGP Egbetokun hosted delegations from the National Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria (NARPON), led by AIG Paul O. Ochonu (Rtd), and the Coalition of CPS Retirees, led by CP Henry Njoku Esq (Rtd). During the meeting, the IGP reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to improving the welfare of retired Police personnel and described the current pension arrangement as “deeply flawed and unfit for the realities of Police service.”

“Our retirees deserve dignity, support, and a structure that reflects their sacrifice and service to Nigeria,” IGP Egbetokun declared—echoing sentiments he had earlier expressed in February 2025 during an interactive session with retired officers at the Police Resource Centre, Jabi, Abuja.

The IHRC, amplifying the IGP’s concerns, emphasized that while military retirees are rightly exempted from the CPS and benefit from a more fitting pension framework, Police retirees who equally face life-threatening duties are unfairly subjected to an ill-suited and inadequate scheme. 

The Commission urged the Federal Government to correct this disparity in line with the principles of equity, justice, and national security interest.

Aligning with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which promises reforms rooted in justice and constitutional order, IHRC called for swift executive action to resolve the long-standing pension crisis within the Nigeria Police Force. “Reforming the Police pension structure is not merely a policy issue. it is a constitutional and moral obligation,” Ambassador Hezekiah stated.

The convergence of voices from IHRC, NARPON, and the Nigeria Police Force signals a growing national demand for change. The spotlight now falls on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to heed this call and champion a reform that upholds the dignity of Nigeria’s law enforcement heroes.