Human rights advocate Omoyele Sowore has criticized the Nigeria Police Force for paying a retired officer, DSP Esther Marcos, only N1.7 million as gratuity after serving the force for 35 years. Sowore described the situation as emblematic of the oppressive nature of Nigeria’s governance.
Chronicles Reporters earlier revealed that DSP Marcos, who retired on November 1, 2018, recounted her struggles with the contributory pension scheme. She disclosed that after her retirement, her gratuity payment of N1.7 million was delayed by over a year. Following that, she had to wait an additional three months before receiving her monthly pension of N40,000.
Marcosâ ordeal highlights the systemic challenges faced by retired police officers in Nigeria. Many officers have complained about delayed or unpaid pensions, leaving them financially stranded after years of service.
Reacting to the revelations, Sowore, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the African Action Congress (AAC), questioned how an officer could receive such a meager gratuity after decades of service. He drew attention to the disparity between the lavish earnings of politicians and the dire financial conditions of police retirees.
âHow on earth is anyone who worked for 35 years paid N1.7 million as gratuity?â Sowore wrote. âThis is a retired DSP of the Nigeria Police speaking about her pension and gratuity. Nigeria does nothing but evil to its workers. In this same country, a senator takes home N29 million per month, yet police officers will kill citizens for resisting the system that oppresses them.â
Soworeâs statement sparked reactions online. One user on X (formerly Twitter), @ChabbaFlorence, described the Nigeria Police Force as oppressive even to its own officers. Another user, @incredibledude9, likened Nigerian police officers to participants in a dystopian game, acknowledging the poor welfare system yet remaining in it with hopes of reaching top positions.
Another user, @jidifeanyi, shared a personal experience while working in the insurance sector, noting that the retirement benefit of a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) was shockingly low at around N4 million.
For years, the Nigeria Police Force has struggled with issues tied to the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). Retired officers have consistently raised concerns about delayed or non-payment of their entitlements, often protesting and lamenting their plight.
This persistent issue underscores the need for urgent reforms in the pension system to ensure that retired officers receive adequate financial support after their years of service.
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