Former Police Officer Decries Post-Retirement Hardship After Losing Leg in Line of Duty

A retired Superintendent of the Nigeria Police Force, Owolabi Odesanmi, has spoken out about the severe economic hardships facing retired police officers under the current pension framework, revealing that his family has been pushed to the brink of penury.

Odesanmi, a 58-year-old native of Erinjiyan Ekiti, Ekiti State, concluded a 35-year policing career in January 2025, last serving as the Divisional Crime Officer of the Okuta-Elerinla Police Division in Akure, Ondo State. His career began as a constable in 1990, and he progressively rose through the ranks to retire as a Superintendent.

His life took a permanent turn on October 5, 2001, while serving at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Command in Apapa, Lagos. While chasing an escaping suspect, Odesanmi was struck by a suddenly moving trailer, sustaining injuries that led to the amputation of his right leg. Following the incident, he received ₦390,000 in compensation from the NPA and ₦34,000 from police insurance, with no subsequent medical financial support.

The retired officer detailed how the rising cost of medical maintenance has eaten into his retirement savings. After his original, authorities-issued prosthetic limb wore out, he was forced to spend over ₦1 million of his ₦3.3 million lump-sum retirement gratuity to purchase a replacement. With his current prosthetic limb severely deteriorated, Odesanmi noted that acquiring a new one is mathematically impossible on his current monthly pension of ₦90,802.

According to Odesanmi, the monthly pension is entirely inadequate to support his family, which includes two children currently enrolled in university, one in secondary school, and one in primary school. He disclosed that the rapid depletion of his monthly allowance forces him to rely entirely on financial goodwill from neighbors, friends, and well-wishers for basic daily survival.

Odesanmi strongly criticized the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) system, arguing that the retirement payouts for police officers are drastically lower than those of peer security agencies. He pointed out that his rank of Superintendent is equivalent to a Major in the Nigerian Army, yet military retirees receive significantly higher gratuities and monthly packages.

To resolve the systemic welfare crisis, Odesanmi appealed to the federal government to sign the Police Pension Board Establishment Bill, widely known as the Police Exit Bill.

The legislation, which has already been passed by the National Assembly, seeks to exit the Nigeria Police Force from the PENCOM framework, aligning their retirement structures with the military, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

Reflecting on the evolution of the police force, Odesanmi noted a sharp decline in institutional funding, stating that modern operational personnel are frequently forced to purchase their own uniforms, kits, and patrol fuel. He concluded that while he advises younger, active personnel to remain professional, his personal experiences with lifelong injury and post-retirement neglect mean he would actively discourage his own children from seeking a career in the force.