Nigerian Police Officers Vow Nationwide Strike Over “Slavery” Pension Scheme!

serious situation brewing right now that could impact everyone in Nigeria. Imagine the people who are supposed to protect us feeling so unfairly treated that they’re willing to stop working. That’s exactly what’s happening with some aggrieved officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

These officers are really unhappy with their current Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), calling it “slavery-like.” They’ve had enough, and they’re making a very public and very strong demand to the government.

The Ultimatum: Fix Our Pensions or Face Shutdown!

These disgruntled officers have sent an open letter directly to President Bola Tinubu and other top government officials. Their message is clear: they want urgent reforms to their pension plan. And they’re not just asking nicely. They’ve given the Tinubu administration until the end of July 2025 to address their concerns.

What happens if their demands aren’t met? They’ve threatened a crippling nationwide shutdown of police operations across the country starting August 1, 2025. That means no police officers on duty, which, as you can imagine, could have massive implications for national security, especially with the ongoing insecurity in various parts of Nigeria.

Why Are They So Angry?

The officers are fed up with what they describe as “the slavery pension scheme police officers have been made to suffer for many years now.” They feel the government has deliberately ignored their plight.

Their main demand is simple: they want their pensions and gratuities to be changed to the defined benefits pension plan. This is the same type of pension plan that personnel in the Nigerian military, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) currently enjoy. They argue that police officers, who face similar dangers and challenges, should have the same secure retirement benefits.

Under the current Contributory Pension Scheme, which was introduced in 2004, both the employer and employee contribute to a Retirement Savings Account. While this was designed to be more sustainable, many police and paramilitary personnel claim it leaves them financially vulnerable upon retirement. Efforts to exempt the police from this scheme have been ongoing since 2022, but nothing comprehensive has been done yet.

A Dire Warning and Looming Crisis

In their strongly-worded letter, the officers didn’t mince words. They warned that if their demands aren’t met by the end of July, they will indeed launch “another mother of all strikes from August 1, 2025.”

And here’s a truly chilling part of their threat: they warned that if any police officer is seen in uniform performing duties during the strike, “he or she may lose his or her lives, or remain maimed for life. A word is enough for the wise.” This shows just how desperate and serious they are about their demands.

With over 300,000 personnel, the Nigeria Police Force is the largest security agency in the country. A nationwide strike by such a large force would undoubtedly have far-reaching and dangerous consequences for the nation.

As of now, the presidency and the Ministry of Police Affairs have not yet formally responded to this serious ultimatum. As the July deadline quickly approaches, tension is clearly building both within the police ranks and across national security circles. We’ll have to wait and see how the government responds to this critical demand from its own protectors.

What do you think about these demands and the potential impact of a police strike?