Nigerian Police Salary: CONPOSS Pay by Rank

The Nigerian Police Force pays staff under the Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS). A constable earns about ₦48,113 a month at step 1; a sergeant, about ₦55,973; an inspector, ₦87,135; a Commissioner of Police, ₦502,970; and the Inspector-General of Police, ₦1,234,450. 

How the Nigerian Police pay structure works

CONPOSS stands for Consolidated Police Salary Structure. It is the police equivalent of the civil service grade level. A police recruit sits on CONPOSS 1; the Inspector-General of Police sits at the top.

Steps are the years you’ve spent on a rank. A corporal on step 3 has spent three years at corporal grade and earns slightly more than a step-1 corporal. Steps run up to 10, but most officers get promoted to a new rank before then.

The figures below are step-1 monthly basic salaries — the floor for each rank. Allowances are paid on top.

Nigerian Police Force monthly salary table

The Police Service Commission has been pushing for a fresh salary review under a Police Salary Structure (PSS) separate from CONPOSS. As of April 2026 the new structure has been partially rolled out, with rank-and-file constables now reportedly taking home between ₦65,000 and ₦90,000 a month including allowances. Officers should check their pay slip for the exact figure under the current circular.

Allowances

On top of the basic salary, officers get:

• Uniform allowance — ₦4,000 to ₦30,000 a year, depending on rank.
• Rent (housing) allowance — ₦30,000 to ₦50,000 a month for officers in private accommodation. Those in barracks don’t qualify.
• Transport allowance — paid monthly, varies by rank and posting.
• Risk allowance — paid to officers posted to high-risk locations (counter-terrorism, anti-robbery, conflict zones).
• Hardship allowance — for officers in remote or insecure areas.

Senior officers also draw entertainment, domestic-staff, and duty-tour allowances.

Ranks in the Nigeria Police Force

The 15 substantive ranks, from highest to lowest:

1. Inspector-General of Police (IGP)
2. Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG)
3. Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG)
4. Commissioner of Police (CP)
5. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP)
6. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP)
7. Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP)
8. Superintendent of Police (SP)
9. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)
10. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP)
11. Inspector of Police
12. Sergeant Major
13. Sergeant
14. Corporal
15. Constable

A constable can be promoted to corporal after three years; rank-and-file officers can rise to inspector with the right exams and time-in-grade.

Arms of the Nigerian Police Force

The force is divided into 14 specialist arms:

1. Administrative Division
2. Anti-Fraud Section
3. Central Criminal Registry
4. Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS replacement, now SWAT)
5. X-Squad / General Investigation
6. Special Fraud Unit
7. Legal Section
8. Forensic Science Laboratory
9. Interpol Liaison
10. Homicide
11. Police Mobile Force (PMF)
12. Anti-Human Trafficking Unit
13. Force Intelligence Bureau
14. Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU)

Who supervises the Nigerian Police?

Three bodies oversee the force:

1. Police Service Commission (PSC) — recruitment, promotion, discipline of officers below the IGP.
2. Nigerian Police Council — chaired by the President; sets broad policy.
3. Ministry of Interior / Ministry of Police Affairs — funding, policy, and presidential oversight.

Organisational structure

The Nigeria Police Force is structured along Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, then drilled down to the village level:

1. Force Headquarters (Abuja)
2. Zonal Headquarters (12 zones)
3. State Commands Headquarters (37 — one per state plus FCT)
4. Area Commands
5. Divisional Police Headquarters
6. Police Stations
7. Police Posts
8. Village Police Posts

Current leadership (2026)

Olatunji Rilwan Disu is the current Inspector-General of Police. He took office on 24 February 2026, replacing Kayode Egbetokun. Disu was previously DIG in charge of Force Criminal Investigation Department.

The IGP reports directly to the President of Nigeria, currently Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Challenges facing the Nigerian Police Force

Institutional

The Police Service Commission has limited power to discipline officers without going through the police itself. There is no truly independent complaints channel, which weakens internal discipline.

Structural

The Nigeria Police is highly centralised. State Commissioners of Police take orders from the IGP, who reports to the President — not the state governor. This makes community policing hard. State Police bills have been debated since 2023 to allow each state to run its own force.

Operational

Roughly 40% of personnel are tied up on VIP guard duty. Equipment shortages, ageing vehicles, and poor forensic infrastructure limit basic crime control.

Financial

Police funding is thin. Many stations rely on community donations for fuel, stationery, and even uniforms. Most basic forensic and IT systems are not yet computerised at the divisional level.

FAQs

What is the salary of a Nigerian police constable?

About ₦48,113 a month basic at step 1 under CONPOSS. With the rolling 2024 review, take-home pay (with allowances) for new constables now sits in the ₦65,000–₦90,000 range.

How much does the Inspector-General of Police earn?

The IGP’s basic salary is around ₦1,234,450 a month, plus official residence, security, vehicles, domestic staff, and entertainment allowances.

Who is the current IGP of Nigeria?

Olatunji Rilwan Disu, sworn in on 24 February 2026.

How long does it take to be promoted in the Nigerian Police?

Time-in-grade rules vary by rank. Constables can be promoted to corporal after three years; corporals to sergeant after four years, subject to a promotion exam and clean record.

Do Nigerian police officers get pension?

Yes. Officers contribute to the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), and there are ongoing campaigns by police unions to move officers off CPS into a defined-benefit scheme similar to the military.

What allowances do Nigerian police officers receive?

Rent, uniform, transport, hardship, risk, duty-tour, and (for senior officers) entertainment and domestic-staff allowances.