Retired DSP Laments N40,000 Pension After 35 Years of Service

A retired Deputy Superintendent of Police, Esther Marcus, has decried what she described as the unfairness of the contributory pension scheme after 35 years of service in the Nigeria Police Force.

In a video that has since gone viral, Marcus revealed that she received N1.7 million as her gratuity in 2018, along with a monthly pension of N40,000. She described the situation as deplorable, noting that it reflects the struggles faced by many police retirees.

"My name is Esther Marcus, a retired DSP of the Nigeria Police Force," she stated. "I retired on November 1, 2018, after serving for 35 years. When I retired, I waited over a year to receive my gratuity of N1.7 million. After that, I started getting N40,000 monthly. This is the reality for every officer under this dirty contributory pension scheme."

Marcus explained that she joined the force before turning 16, emphasizing that she was chosen due to her height while escorting a friend to the recruitment exercise. Reflecting on her service years, she lamented the meager benefits, which she claimed leave retirees struggling to survive.

The retired officer accused the Federal Government of ignoring repeated pleas for a review of the pension scheme, despite multiple public hearings on the matter.

"This struggle has been ongoing for over ten years," she said. "The government has held three or four public hearings, but nothing has changed. Meanwhile, the Army, DSS, and other paramilitary forces are not subjected to this treatment. Why are we different?"

She also alleged that senior police officers, including Assistant Inspectors General (AIGs), Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs), and the Inspector General (IG), have exempted themselves from the contributory pension scheme, leaving lower-ranking officers to bear the brunt.

Marcus vowed that police retirees would not relent in their fight for justice, revealing plans to stage a protest at the National Assembly and involve international media outlets.

"We will never stop fighting," she declared. "We are planning to occupy the National Assembly and call CNN to expose this injustice. How do you expect officers to survive on these pensions? It’s no wonder corruption persists in the force."

A Call for Reform

She further criticized those opposed to reforming the pension system, likening them to vultures waiting for the weak to perish. "Anyone against us will not escape this bondage. They are vultures, preying on the vulnerable," she remarked.

Marcus argued that the current pension conditions foster corruption within the police force. "When officers know their retirement leads to poverty, they will continue extorting and enriching themselves by any means. You cannot fight corruption with this kind of injustice."