OVER 20 RETIRED POLICE OFFICERS REPORTEDLY DIE IN SIX MONTHS OVER INABILITY TO AFFORD MEDICAL CARE

By NaijaParrot | October 26, 2026 

Abuja, Nigeria 

 The Police Retired Officers Forum of Nigeria has raised concerns over the worsening financial and healthcare challenges facing retired police personnel, alleging that more than 20 former officers died within six months after struggling to afford medical treatment. The forum’s national coordinator, CSP Raphael Irowainu (retd.), made the allegation amid renewed protests demanding urgent action on the retirement benefits of former members of the Nigeria Police Force. 

 According to reports of the protest, the retirees say the current pension arrangement leaves many former officers unable to meet basic living expenses, including food, accommodation and essential healthcare, despite years of service to the country. The reported deaths have not been independently verified. 

The retirees have taken their campaign to the National Assembly, calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sign legislation intended to remove the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). The forum says the proposed legislation, known as the Nigeria Police Force Pension Board bill, was passed by the National Assembly in December 2025 and transmitted to the President for assent on March 16, 2026. 

 The group argues that a dedicated pension arrangement would provide a better framework for managing retirement benefits and addressing the financial difficulties experienced by former police personnel. 

The retirees have repeatedly complained that the lump-sum payments and monthly pensions they receive are insufficient to cover their needs, particularly as the cost of living and medical services continues to place pressure on household finances. Irowainu has cited examples of retirees receiving relatively modest lump sums and monthly payments, depending on their ranks before retirement. 

The figures are claims made by the forum and have not been independently audited for this report. The group maintains that the existing arrangement should be reconsidered, arguing that police personnel deserve a retirement system that recognises the risks and responsibilities associated with their service. 

 The controversy has also placed the National Pension Commission (PenCom) and relevant government institutions under pressure to explain how the welfare concerns of retired police officers will be addressed. PenCom has previously maintained that improving retirement benefits is an important consideration in the debate, while the retirees insist that removing the police from the contributory scheme remains their principal demand. The two positions reflect an ongoing disagreement over the most appropriate way to reform police pensions. (Atlantic Post⁠) 

 The retirees have continued to call for a clear response from the Federal Government, warning that prolonged delays could deepen hardship among former officers and their families. A wider concern over police welfare The pension dispute has raised broader questions about the welfare of personnel who dedicate years to public service and the support available to them after retirement. 

 For the retirees, access to affordable healthcare and adequate pension payments is not simply a financial issue but a matter of dignity and security in old age. The allegation that more than 20 former officers died after being unable to afford medical treatment underscores the urgency of examining their circumstances. 

However, confirmation of the reported deaths and their causes would require further evidence, including the names of those affected and independent documentation. As the dispute continues, the retirees are urging the Federal Government to move beyond assurances and provide a clear path towards resolving their pension concerns. 

 NaijaParrot 🦜 

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