Open Letter to the President of the Senate: Police pension reform is a test of justice, leadership and national security
By Okechukwu Nwanguma
Distinguished Senate President,
Rt. Hon. Godswill Akpabio, GCON,
I write in the public interest and in solidarity with thousands of retired police officers who have once again appealed to your office regarding the Bill exiting the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), passed by the Senate on 4 December 2025 but yet to be transmitted to the President for assent.
This is not merely an administrative matter. It is a moral, institutional and national security question.
For years, RULAAC has consistently drawn attention to the deplorable welfare conditions of serving and retired police officers. We have documented the systemic neglect that leaves many retirees impoverished, frustrated and disillusioned after decades of service. We have argued that poor welfare fuels corruption, weakens morale and undermines public trust in law enforcement. Reforming police pensions is therefore not a concession – it is a strategic imperative.
The appeal by the Police Retired Officers Forum (PROF) reflects deep anxiety within the ranks of those who once bore the burden of internal security. Many of these retirees survive on irregular, inadequate pensions under a system they insist does not reflect the peculiar risks and demands of police service. Their call for exit from the CPS is rooted in lived experience, not sentiment.
Distinguished Senate President, the Senate fulfilled its legislative duty when it passed the Bill. What remains is the constitutionally required transmission to the President. Any prolonged delay, whether procedural or political, inevitably breeds suspicion and erodes confidence in the process.
At a time when Nigeria confronts multifaceted insecurity – insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence, and violent crime – the morale of the police institution cannot be treated lightly. A demoralized force, uncertain about its future and resentful about its retirement security, cannot optimally protect citizens or support democratic stability.
This matter also speaks to the broader issue of police reform. Genuine reform is not achieved solely through new laws or public relations declarations. It requires confronting structural welfare deficits – poor salaries, inadequate housing, lack of insurance protection, and pension insecurity. If we expect professionalism, restraint and accountability from officers, the state must uphold its reciprocal obligation of dignity and security in retirement.
The police occupy a unique position in Nigeria’s security architecture. Unlike many other public servants, they face daily physical danger, psychological stress and social hostility. A pension framework that fails to acknowledge these realities is inherently flawed.
Distinguished Senate President, leadership is often defined not by grand rhetoric but by timely action. The transmission of this Bill presents an opportunity for your office to affirm the Senate’s commitment to justice, institutional strengthening and national stability.
Beyond partisan calculations, this is about restoring confidence within the ranks of a critical national institution. It is about demonstrating that the National Assembly listens to those who served the nation faithfully. It is about sending a signal that welfare reform is integral to security reform.
RULAAC has long maintained that improving police welfare is not only about compassion; it is about accountability and performance. A properly motivated police force enhances internal security, strengthens the rule of law, attracts investment and supports economic growth. Security and development are inseparable.
The retired officers who now protest delays are not agitators; they are veterans of service. Some are elderly. Some are ill. Many are struggling. Their appeal deserves urgency, transparency and closure.
Distinguished Senate President, history will indeed record how this moment was handled. I urge you to facilitate, without further delay, the transmission of the Bill exiting the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme to the President for assent.
Nigeria cannot afford a police institution weakened by welfare neglect. Justice delayed in matters of pension security is justice denied.
Respectfully,
Okechukwu Nwanguma
Executive Director
Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC)
Police Reform and Rule of Law Advocate
12/2/26
