Protest Erupts in Abuja as Sowore Leads March for Increased Police Salary to ₦500,000
Abuja, Nigeria – July 21, 2025 -OVL News
Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, led a peaceful protest in Abuja today demanding an immediate increase in the minimum wage of Nigerian police officers to ₦500,000.
The demonstration, which began in the early hours of Monday, drew scores of citizens, civil society groups, and youth activists.
Gathering at the Unity Fountain, the protesters marched through major streets of the Federal Capital Territory, chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards with inscriptions such as
“Pay the Police What They Deserve,” “₦50k Can’t Feed a Family,” and “Welfare for Police = Safety for All.”
Sowore, addressing journalists during the rally, decried the “inhuman and embarrassing” conditions under which Nigerian police officers serve, despite being entrusted with the nation’s internal security.
“It is shameful that in 2025, a Nigerian police officer still earns less than ₦50,000 as basic salary. What type of security can we expect when those mandated to protect lives and property are themselves victims of hunger and neglect?” he said.
According to Sowore, the call for a ₦500,000 monthly wage is not only fair but essential for professionalizing the police force and curbing the widespread corruption that has long tainted its public image.
The protest comes amid increased reports of police extortion, lack of operational vehicles, poor housing, and unpaid pensions. Analysts have linked many of these issues to chronic underfunding and poor welfare schemes within the Nigerian Police Force.
Some retired officers who joined the protest shared emotional testimonies of their service years and post-retirement hardship.
“After 35 years in service, I cannot afford basic healthcare,” said Retired ASP Samuel Eze. “All we ask for is dignity, during and after our service.”
While no security agencies attempted to disrupt the march, a small team of police officers was seen monitoring the protest without interference. Some of them, who spoke anonymously, expressed quiet support for the demands being made.
“We are silent with them. Most of us cannot pay our children’s school fees. We need this raise too,” one officer said.
This protest is part of a broader movement calling for the implementation of a living wage across all security and public service sectors.
Sowore warned that unless government officials begin to prioritize the welfare of law enforcement officers, national security would continue to deteriorate.
At the time of filing this report, there had been no official response from the Ministry of Police Affairs or the Presidency regarding the protest.
