Retired police officers under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) have erupted in jubilation following the forced removal of Kayode Egbetokun as Inspector-General of Police on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, describing his exit as long-overdue relief from what they called a tenure marked by neglect, deceit and collapsing morale across the force.
In a blistering statement signed by SP Charles Muka (Retd.) of the Delta Command, the retirees said Egbetokun’s removal has triggered celebrations in police commands and formations nationwide, with serving officers welcoming what they see as the end of a demoralising era.
According to the statement, welfare under Egbetokun “plummeted to the lowest ebb,” while crime surged and rank-and-file officers became increasingly ill-motivated. The retirees accused the former IGP of prioritising optics over security, citing his decision to organise police games in Asaba at a time they described as “grossly ill-timed” amid worsening insecurity.
The CPS retirees reserved their harshest words for what they termed Egbetokun’s “cruel indifference” to their plight. They alleged he actively worked against a clear and humane exit plan for retirees, leaving thousands trapped in what they called a “death sentence of a scheme,” haunted by the unanswered question: “Where will they exit to?”
They further accused the former police boss of failing to provide a coherent roadmap during public hearings on the CPS exit, instead floating what they described as desperate and opaque ideas, including plans to rely on undeclared internally generated revenue and private donations to pay retirees, proposals they said amounted to buying time.
The statement also alleged that Egbetokun contemplated a controversial hierarchical payment structure that would prioritise senior officers, while CPS retirees protested for over a month at the National Assembly gates without any response from the IGP.
“To us, his shameful and infamous removal is a great relief,” the statement said, adding that Egbetokun “will not be remembered for anything” positive by those who served and retired under him.
With Tunji Diai taking over the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force, the retirees expressed cautious optimism, urging the new police chief to urgently confront the CPS exit crisis, restore confidence among serving officers, and place welfare at the centre of policing.
“The welfare of the men must be taken seriously,” Muka said, adding that CPS retirees now hope to “heave a sigh of relief” after years of anguish.
For many within and outside the force, Egbetokun’s exit has been framed not as a routine change of guard, but as the ignominious end of a tenure retirees say symbolised neglect, silence and broken trust.
Find below excerpts from text of the police retirees:
It reads, “Yes, the forced removal of Kayode Egbetokun has elicited jubilation in Police Commands and Formations. To the serving members, it is a welcome development and to the retirees especially those under CPS it’s a great relieve from an insensitive man who has held them on the jugular.
“Under him, the welfare of the serving members plummeted to the lowest elb. Crime rate surged and the men ill motivated. While crime surged, IGP was in Asaba organizing Police games which was largely seen as ill timed. Retirees under CPS who groan daily, will never forget nor forgive Egbetokun for working against their exit from the death sentence of a scheme. ‘Where will they exit to’ will continue to echo in their minds.
“In all the exit public hearings, he never came up with a clear direction on the exit aspiration. At a point he planned to use undeclared Police internally generated revenue and monies from friends to pay retirees.
“All these turned deceitful and buying of time. He also planned further hierarchical payment by giving some percentages to CP and above and so on. While retirees under CPS protested at National Assembly gate for more then a month, Egbetokun kept mute.
“To us his shameful and infamous removal is a great relieve. Egbetokun will not be remembered for anything.
“As Tunji Disu takes over, we look forward to seeing him right the wrongs. We expect him to face the exit plan to bolster his image and create motivation for the serving members who look up to retirement.
“The welfare of the men”, he went on, “must be taken seriously. To us under the CPS, our relieve has come. We may soon heave a sigh of relief. To God be the glory. Amen”.
