Omoyele Sowore, fiery human rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has launched a blistering attack on Nigeria’s ruling class, accusing them of indulging in luxury while police officers, who risk their lives daily, are abandoned to suffer in disgraceful poverty.
Speaking during a candid appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, Sowore decried the obscene disparity between the earnings of Nigerian lawmakers and frontline security operatives. He highlighted a shocking imbalance where senators reportedly pocket a staggering ₦30 million monthly, while retired police officers survive on ₦35,000 pensions after 35 years of service.
> “I met a police inspector in 2023 who had served this country for 35 years,” Sowore recalled. “His entire retirement benefit? Just ₦1.6 million. And his monthly pension? A miserable ₦35,000. Meanwhile, the same senators who need constant police protection take home ₦30 million every month. Where’s the justice in that?”
Sowore didn’t hold back in exposing what he described as the “systemic betrayal” of Nigeria’s security forces. He called out the hypocrisy of society, which he said is quick to vilify the police for corruption and misconduct, yet blind to the dire economic realities pushing officers into survival mode.
> “We slam them for extortion and brutality, but how many of us talk about the hell they go through daily? Without the police, many of us couldn’t even step out safely. They shop where we shop. Their kids attend the same schools. Yet we treat them like disposable tools.”
The activist went further to cite international examples, referencing the transformation of the New York Police Department (NYPD) after comprehensive welfare reforms.
> “When NYPD officers got better salaries, insurance, helicopters, decent uniforms, and adequate training, crime dropped significantly. Why can’t we replicate that in Nigeria?”
Sowore dismissed the excuse that there are too many police officers to implement wage increases, asserting that the real number of active-duty officers hovers between 220,000 and 250,000, far below official figures bloated by ghost workers.
He proposed a new monthly minimum salary of ₦300,000 to ₦500,000 for rank-and-file officers, calling current wages “a national embarrassment.”
> “Imagine a policeman securing a bank earning less than the banker he’s protecting. That’s a recipe for disaster. Who guards the guardians if the guardians can’t even eat?”
Sowore revealed that frustration has reached a boiling point within the force, with many officers quietly mobilizing for a nationwide police strike scheduled for July 21. Retired officers are also gearing up for peaceful protests across state commands and at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
> “Serving officers are ready to face the consequences. Some have already been arrested for simply discussing the strike in WhatsApp groups. But they are tired—and they are not backing down.”
He lambasted Nigeria’s top brass—politicians, police hierarchy, and the elite class—for turning a blind eye to the suffering of those sworn to protect them, describing their silence as complicit and morally bankrupt.
> “Where are the celebrities, politicians, and influencers who shouted #EndSARS? Why are they silent now when it’s time to fight for the same police they once condemned? Reform doesn’t stop with protests—it must include welfare.”
Sowore insisted that championing police welfare doesn’t excuse misconduct but is a critical part of the reform process.
> “If we don’t fight for them now, we might wake up one day with no one left to protect us—and that day will be doomsday.”
He emphasized that true reform must include flushing out corruption within the force, enhancing training, improving working conditions, and ensuring officers are treated with dignity and respect—before their death, not after.
In a striking example of how public pressure can yield results, Sowore disclosed that after a viral video exposed a retired officer’s abysmal pension, authorities “miraculously discovered” ₦5 million in his account.
> “That’s the power of raising our voices. The money is there. The system just hoards it from the very people who deserve it most.”
He added that frustrations aren’t limited to the police. Personnel in the NSCDC, DSS, and even the military are increasingly disgruntled about their pay and pension conditions.
> “This is bigger than the police. It’s a workers’ issue. An injustice to one is an injustice to all—and the time to act is now.”
Sowore’s passionate call to action has ignited fresh national discourse, challenging Nigerians to rally not just for justice, but for the dignity of those who safeguard the nation.
PIONEER NEWS 