Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has advocated for a significant increase in the remuneration of the rank-and-file officers of the Nigeria Police Force.
Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC), proposed a monthly salary of ₦500,000 during an appearance on Channels Television’s ‘The Morning Brief’ on Wednesday.
Sowore questioned the current pay disparity, highlighting that a typical Nigerian senator, often under police protection, reportedly earns ₦30 million per month, while many police officers take home substantially less.
He stressed the importance of ensuring police officers are adequately compensated for their work and do not face destitution upon retirement. “
He said he’s concerned about the police who are really doing the work to get the salary they deserve.
“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,” Sowore remarked. The activist underscored the inadequacy of current police salaries in the face of economic realities.
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He pointed out that ₦500,000, while a substantial increase from current police salaries (which for junior officers can be as low as ₦43,000 – ₦62,000 per month according to recent reports), is equivalent to only about $300 (using Sowore’s own conversion of N500,000 being about $300), an amount he noted some individuals earn daily in other parts of the world.
Sowore also criticised the management of police pensions, alleging that while the average worker in the police pension management company earns around a million Naira monthly, the retirees whose pensions they manage ‘are dying of poverty.’
He reiterated the dire situation for officers, questioning how they are expected to survive on salaries as low as ₦57,000 or ₦140,000 (depending on rank) after 35 years of service, especially with Nigeria’s current inflation rate recorded at 22.97% in May 2025.
The activist also reiterated that the planned protest by aggrieved police personnel, scheduled for July 21, is a direct result of their dissatisfaction with poor pay.
He urged all Nigerians, particularly celebrity entertainers who often benefit from police security, to support the upcoming protest, emphasising the need for solidarity with the police rank and file.
