Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has revealed that rank-and-file officers within the Nigeria Police Force are preparing to embark on a strike action on July 21 to protest against what they describe as inadequate salaries and welfare.
Mr Sowore shared this information during an appearance on Channels Television’s ‘The Morning Brief’ on Wednesday.
The 2023 presidential candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC) stated that the affected police personnel, who consider their current earnings equivalent to being unemployed, have chosen this date for their planned demonstration.
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“Our proposal, which many of them are considering, is to withdraw their services, especially from the high-ranking officials who are supposed to make these decisions,” Mr Sowore explained.
He suggested that if the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun were to find himself without police escorts or drivers on July 21, it would underscore the seriousness of the officers’ grievances.
He clarified that the discontent is not limited to retired officers, as police authorities at the highest levels might believe.
He stated that the most vocal and determined officer will down tools on 21 July while another group will follow on 1 August.
Mr Sowore highlighted the dire financial situation faced by these officers.
He cited examples of meagre pensions, questioning the viability of a N35,000 monthly pension after 35 years of service.
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He also questioned the sustainability of a maximum monthly salary of N57,000 or N140,000 (depending on rank) in an economy experiencing high inflation (Nigeria’s inflation rate was 22.97% in May 2025, according to the National Bureau of Statistics), where officers must cover school fees and healthcare for their families.
Mr Sowore appealed to the public, particularly celebrity entertainers who often benefit from police protection, to lend their support to the planned protest, advocating for a significant improvement in the welfare and remuneration of the Nigeria Police Force’s rank and file.
