Sowore noted that Nigeria as a country does nothing but evil to its workers, stressing that the same country where senators are paid a total of N29 million per month, is where police officers kill citizens for fighting the system that oppresses the people.
Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has lambasted the Nigeria Police Force for paying a retired policewoman, DSP Esther Marcos, only N1.7 million gratuity after dedicating 35 years to the Nigeria Police Force.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that Marcos who retired on November 1, 2018, spoke out about issues with her contributory pension after.
She lamented that after her retirement, her pension payments were initially delayed, and she only received N1.7million as her gratuity after waiting for over a year.
She had noted that after finally receiving her N1.7million gratuity, she had to wait an additional three months before starting to receive her monthly pension of N40,000.
The retired policewoman's experience is not an isolated incident, as the non-payment or delayed payment of contributory pensions by the Nigeria Police Force has been a longstanding issue affecting all police officers for over a decade.
The delay highlights the challenges many police officers face in accessing their pension benefits, which can be a source of financial security in their retirement years.
Reacting to Marcos’ lamentation, Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 General Elections, questioned how an officer who spent 35 years of her life in active service could be paid only N1.7 million as gratuity.
Sowore noted that Nigeria as a country does nothing but evil to its workers, stressing that the same country where senators are paid a total of N29 million per month, is where police officers kill citizens for fighting the system that oppresses the people.
Sowore wrote, “How on earth is anyone who worked for 35 years paid N1.7m ($1,100) as gratuity?
“This is a retired DSP of the Nigeria Police speaking about her pension and gratuity after retiring from the Nigerian Police Farce, this is so sad!
“Nigeria does nothing but evil to its workers.
“It is the same country where a Senator takes home N29 million per month, but the irony is that these Nigeria Police officers will kill you in a heartbeat for fighting the system that oppresses us all!”
How on earth is anyone who worked for 35 years paid N1.7m ($1,100) as gratuity?
This is a retired DSP of @policeng speaking about her pension and gratuity after retiring from the Nigerian Police Farce, this is so sad!Nigeria does nothing but evil to its workers.
It is the… pic.twitter.com/HHM06vks6U
— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) January 3, 2025
Also reacting, an X user, @ChabbaFlorence said, “The Nigerian oppressive force is even very much oppressive to their own officers.”
The Nigerian oppressive force is even very much oppressive to their own officers
— Florence Chabba (@ChabbaFlorence) January 3, 2025
Another X user, @incredibledude9 said, “A typical Nigerian police officer is like a Squid Game player. They are fully aware of the poor welfare system-low salaries, inadequate housing, and harsh working conditions.
“Yet, instead of striving to reform the system, many choose to remain in it, hoping to rise through the ranks and gain access to top positions with unlimited resources.
“Sadly, only a small fraction will ever reach the top, while the majority will retire into abject poverty due to the meager pension system.”
A typical Nigerian police officer is like a Squid Game player. They are fully aware of the poor welfare system-low salaries, inadequate housing, and harsh working conditions. Yet, instead of striving to reform the system, many choose to remain in it, hoping to rise through the… pic.twitter.com/IMetvCX9r5
— Mr Incredible (@incredibledude9) January 3, 2025
@jidifeanyi said, “She's right, I encountered many of them back then I was with headway assurance. There is a plan we call Annuity plan for retirees and I was shocked to see the retirement benefit of a retired CSP of police to be around 4 million naira.
“Though there is a bulk pay which they give them immediately and they spread the remaining half which they pay them as monthly pension.”
She's right, I encountered many of them back then I was with headway assurance. There is a plan we call Annuity plan for retirees and I was shocked to see the retirement benefit of a retired CSP of police to be around 4 million naira. Though there is a bulk pay which they give…
— Odogwu Anioma (@jidifeanyi) January 3, 2025
The Nigeria Police Force has been grappling with a long-standing issue of delayed or non-payment of contributory pensions to its retired officers.
For years, retired police officers have been vocal about their frustrations, protesting and lamenting the lack of payment under the compulsory and voluntary contributory pension scheme.
This issue stems from the challenges inherent in the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).