In a move that has sparked outrage among officers, the Nigeria Police Force has mandated its personnel to contribute to what it calls the “2025 Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) due,” a compulsory levy that could rake in over N3 billion nationwide.
The Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) is currently led by Elizabeth Egbetokun, wife of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun. According to an internal directive obtained by SaharaReporters, officers from the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and above are required to pay N12,000 each, while Inspectors and lower-ranking officers must contribute N6,000 each—all in cash and no later than February 20, 2025.
A signal sent to officers read:
> “COMPOL directs that all officers and men attached are to pay 2025 POWA DUE of N12,000 for OFFICERS and N6,000 for INSPECTORS AND RANK AND FILE respectively, on or before THURSDAY 20/02/2025 unfailingly. Officers are to report to S/O/ADMIN OFFICE for payment.”
With Nigeria’s police force boasting over 380,000 personnel, the deductions amount to a staggering N3 billion, raising concerns over the legality and transparency of the levy.
The directive has not gone down well with many officers, who see it as an outright act of extortion rather than a legitimate dues payment.
“If the money is legal, why not deduct it directly from our salaries? Why force us to pay in cash?” an officer questioned while speaking to SaharaReporters.
Another officer lamented, “They are squeezing us dry. How does this benefit us? This is just a way to enrich the IGP’s wife.”
A senior Inspector echoed similar sentiments, branding the levy “an illegal extortion scheme.”
Efforts to get a response from Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages seeking clarification were ignored.
This development comes amid a brewing mutiny within the Nigeria Police Force, with over 200 senior officers resisting retirement despite falsified birth records. Some officers have reportedly served for over 44 years, leading to internal tensions between IGP Egbetokun and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Dasuki Galandanchi.
Galandanchi, who is set to retire next month, is pushing for a two-year tenure extension, citing the precedent set by Egbetokun, who himself was granted an extension despite being due for retirement in 2024.
A police insider revealed:
> “Galandanchi insists that if he must retire, then Egbetokun must also step down. The battle lines have been drawn.”
Reports indicate that Galandanchi’s “larger-than-life” lifestyle and reckless behavior have made him unpopular with Egbetokun, who is reportedly not keen on extending his tenure.
On July 23, 2024, the Nigerian Senate passed a controversial bill amending the Police Act, effectively extending Egbetokun’s tenure beyond September 2024. This move, widely seen as a political maneuver, has further fueled discontent among officers demanding a fair and transparent retirement process.
Meanwhile, on January 31, 2025, the Police Service Commission (PSC) approved the immediate retirement of senior officers who had exceeded the mandatory 35 years of service or turned 60 years old.
With rising discontent over the POWA dues, internal retirement disputes, and controversial tenure extensions, the Nigeria Police Force appears to be facing one of its biggest internal crises in recent years.
Will the IGP bow to mounting pressure, or will police officers be forced to comply with the controversial levy? As the February 20 deadline looms, tensions within the force are at an all-time high.
PIONEER NEWS 