A growing outcry has erupted across Nigeria following the heartbreaking revelations of retired police officers who dedicated decades of their lives to serving the nation—only to be rewarded with meagre gratuities and starvation-level pensions.
One of the most striking cases is that of Sambo Bello, a retired Inspector of the Nigeria Police Force, who has publicly decried the inhumane treatment of officers after retirement. In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, the visibly distressed Bello, clad in a sweat-soaked brown shirt and white cap, shared his painful reality.
> “My name is Sambo Bello. I am a retired inspector with the Nigerian Police. I retired in 2014. The Police paid me a gratuity of just ₦2.2 million, and since then, I have been receiving a monthly pension of only ₦20,000. I’ve been surviving on this for the past 11 years,” he said.
His voice cracked as he recounted his 35 years of loyal service—years filled with risk, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication. Yet, he said, there has been no recognition, no support, and no dignified compensation from the state he once swore to protect.
When asked whether the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) offered any post-retirement support, Bello responded flatly: “I was not given anything else apart from the ₦2.2 million. I have been left on my own.”
Unfortunately, Bello’s ordeal is not isolated. Thousands of retired officers across the country are facing similar indignities, trapped in a vicious cycle of delayed benefits, abysmal pensions, and institutional neglect. These men and women, once hailed as the nation’s protectors, are now left to fend for themselves in old age.
Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has fiercely condemned the system that perpetuates such blatant injustice. In a scathing Facebook post on Thursday, Sowore blasted the Nigerian police and pension system for their cruel treatment of retired officers.
> “A retired Inspector of Police who left service in 2014 was given only ₦2.2 million as gratuity and now receives just ₦20,000 monthly. Even a Commissioner of Police only receives ₦80,000 a month. It is an utterly wicked system of deprivation,” Sowore wrote.
He emphasized that the disgraceful pension structure is not only a betrayal of service but a ticking time bomb for morale within the force.
Adding fuel to the fire, a separate viral video circulated recently, showing a retired Superintendent of Police rejecting his retirement package in rage and disappointment. The officer, who retired on October 1, 2023, was informed that his entire post-retirement entitlement amounted to a mere ₦3 million—₦1 million in arrears and ₦2 million as gratuity.
> “I laugh—the Nigerian Police. I really do,” he said, his voice trembling with emotion. “I served my country wholeheartedly. Thirty-five good years! They say ₦3 million is my full entitlement? The devil is a liar.”
The officer declared he would not accept what he described as “an insult,” calling on the Inspector-General of Police to intervene and ensure justice is done.
These cases have ignited a broader conversation about the rot within Nigeria’s pension system, particularly for security personnel. Analysts argue that the humiliation of retirees sends a chilling message to current officers and could damage morale, discipline, and national security in the long run.
Critics are now calling for urgent reforms—demanding that the government overhaul the pension scheme, ensure timely and dignified payments, and establish a welfare structure that respects the sacrifices made by uniformed officers.
As the Nigerian public reels from these revelations, one thing is clear: a nation that fails to honour its heroes is doomed to lose its soul.
#JusticeForRetiredOfficers #PensionReformNow #NigeriaPoliceWelfare
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