Human rights activist and 2023 African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has strongly advocated for a major salary increase for rank-and-file officers of the Nigeria Police Force, emphasizing that their current earnings are not enough to support a decent living standard.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s flagship morning show, “The Morning Brief,” on Wednesday, Sowore expressed deep concern about the welfare of security personnel who risk their lives daily to protect Nigerians, including high-ranking government officials and influential personalities.
He questioned the glaring disparity between the earnings of senators and police officers, arguing that it is unjust and demoralizing for officers who provide security for lawmakers to receive paltry salaries while senators take home exorbitant sums. Sowore asked, “Why is it that senators are taking home ₦30 million per month, but the policeman cannot earn ₦500,000 per month?”
He further stated, “We’re concerned about the people who are really doing the work, and it is time for us to be on their side to ensure that they are well paid, well remunerated, and when they are no longer in service, they don’t become paupers.”
Highlighting the imbalance, he reiterated, “I mentioned earlier that an average senator takes home ₦30 million per month, but the senator can’t leave home except they are accompanied by the police. These same officers are often underpaid, overworked, and ignored by the system that should protect and uplift them.”
Adding perspective on the value of ₦500,000, Sowore explained, “What is ₦500,000 really? Maybe about $300 a month; that is what some people earn in a single day somewhere else, not in Nigeria. This amount would at least allow them to take care of their families and live with dignity.”
Sowore also used the opportunity to criticize the existing police pension structure, noting that officers often retire into hardship despite years of dedicated service. “The interesting thing about it is that there is a police pension limited, the company that manages their pension,” he said. “The pension company, an average worker there makes about a million per month, that’s the least that they make, and the people whose pension they are managing are dying of poverty.”
He questioned how officers are expected to survive in a harsh economic environment: “How do you serve a country for 35 years and your monthly salary is, at highest, ₦57,000, maybe ₦140,000, depending on your rank?”
He continued, “How do you survive in a country where the inflation rate is at 24 percent, where you have to pay the school fees of your children, and where you have to treat your children if they are sick? These are basic necessities, and without adequate pay, police officers are pushed further into poverty and frustration.”
Addressing an upcoming protest, Sowore mentioned the planned demonstration by police officers over their poor remuneration, set to take place on July 21. He described it as a movement initiated by disgruntled officers who feel neglected and underappreciated despite their sacrifices.
He urged Nigerians, especially celebrities and public figures who benefit from police security, to support the protest and stand in solidarity with the officers. “I know that the ones that accompany celebrities get better pay, they get incentives, but at the end of the day, it’s important that you all step out for the police,” he added.
Sowore concluded by emphasizing the need for immediate government intervention to improve the living and working conditions of police officers, stating that a well-supported police force is crucial for national security, trust, and stability.