The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) is one of the most prominent security agencies in the country, tasked with ensuring the security of citizens within the country. If you鈥檝e ever been curious about the Nigerian police ranks and salary structure, this article answers your questions.
A brief history
According to the , its history dates back to 1861, when it was a 30-man security group that operated in Lagos state. The group would be expanded to accommodate about 1200 men in 1879 and renamed the Hausa Constabulary, an armed paramilitary outfit. By 1896, the Lagos Police was established and a similar security outfit, the Niger Coast Constabulary, started operations in Calabar in 1894. Meanwhile, the north had its own security agency, the Royal Niger Company Constabulary which was set up in 1988.
In 1900, the Northern and Southern Nigeria Protectorates were born, and with them came the Northern Nigeria Police and Southern Nigeria Police. Fast forward to 1930, the Northern and Southern forces merged to form the colony’s first national police, the Nigerian Police Force.
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Ranks of the Nigerian Police Force
Nigerian police officers are deployed from across the 36 states of the country and the capital to 鈥渇ight crime, criminality and ensure the maintenance of law and order vis-脿-vis peaceful co-existence in the society.鈥
The NPF has three different structures: Command (authority), administration and organisation. The command is hierarchical, starting with the Inspector-General of Police and ending with the constable.
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We outline the Nigerian police ranks and salary below:
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP)
Image: NPF
The head of the entire NPF and the most senior officer, the IGP controls the administration of the NPF. Kayode Egbetokun is the current IGP, after he succeeded Usman Baba in 2023.
Monthly salary according to grade
Inspector-General (1): 鈧1.543,960.95
Inspector-General (2): 鈧1.701,188.95
Inspector-General (3): 鈧1.849,000.29
Inspector-General (4): 鈧1.987,396.61
The Deputy Inspector-General of Police
This is the second most-senior office of the NPF, and it usually has multiple officers who can step in for the IGP when the situation arises. The deputy IGPs head the administrative departments of the NPF. Frank Mba, Habu Sani, Usman Nagogo, Daniel Sokari-Pedro, Ede Ekpeji, Ibrahim Ka鈥檕je and Bala Ciroma are the current Deputy Inspectors-General of Police.
Monthly salary according to grade
Deputy inspector-general (1): 鈧1,405,277.58
Deputy inspector-general (2): 鈧1,558,160.45
Deputy inspector-general (3): 鈧1,706,152.46
Deputy inspector-general (4): 鈧1,849,057,45
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police
Commonly called the AIG, this rank is subordinate to Deputy IGP. AIGs oversee the zonal operations of the NPF. In October 2023, Kayode Egbetokun decorated 12 AIGs.
Monthly salary according to grade
Assistant Inspector-General (1): 鈧867,552.16
Assistant Inspector-General (2): 鈧1,018,009.62
Assistant Inspector-General (3): 鈧1,168,071.66
Assistant Inspector-General (4): 鈧1,318,468.87
The Commissioner of Police
These are officers charged with overseeing the force’s state commands. The CP is appointed by the IGP, subject to approval by the Police Service Commission.
Monthly salary according to grade
Commissioner of police (1): 鈧849,977.67
Commissioner of police (2): 鈧869,472.56
Commissioner of police (3): 鈧887,087.64
Commissioner of police (4): 鈧909,435.78
Commissioner of police (5): 鈧929,497.93
Commissioner of police (6): 鈧960,137.01
The Deputy Commissioner of Police
A DCP oversees an area command. They鈥檙e the second-highest ranked officer in the force’s state command and are often in line to succeed the CP.
Monthly salary according to grade
Deputy commissioner of police (1): 鈧420,772.22
Deputy commissioner of police (2): 鈧432,576.03
Deputy commissioner of police (3): 鈧443,576.03
Deputy commissioner of police (4): 鈧454,977.94
Deputy commissioner of police (5): 鈧466,379.84
Deputy commissioner of police (6): 鈧477,781.85
The Asst. Commissioner of Police
These are officers directly below the DCP. They answer to both the DCP and the Commissioner.
Monthly salary according to grade
Asst. commissioner of police (1): 鈧382.860.45
Asst. commissioner of police (2): 鈧396.258.98
Asst. commissioner of police (3): 鈧409,847.23
Asst. commissioner of police (4): 鈧423,626.20
Asst. commissioner of police (5): 鈧433,396.91
Asst. commissioner of police (6): 鈧447,459.47
The Chief Superintendent of Police
Monthly salary according to grade
Chief superintendent of police (1): 鈧338,759.83
Chief superintendent of police (2): 鈧346,451.39
Chief superintendent of police (3): 鈧354,306.95
Chief superintendent of police (4): 鈧362,162.38
Chief superintendent of police (5): 鈧370,017.94
Chief superintendent of police (6): 鈧377,873.50
Chief superintendent of police (7): 鈧385,728.92
Chief superintendent of police (8): 鈧393,584.48
The Superintendent of Police
Monthly salary according to grade
Superintendent of police (1): 鈧276,759.05
Superintendent of police (2): 鈧283,103.54
Superintendent of police (3): 鈧289,447.89
Superintendent of police (4): 鈧295,792.39
Superintendent of police (5): 鈧302,136.88
Superintendent of police (6): 鈧308,481.37
Superintendent of police (7): 鈧314,825.72
Superintendent of police (8): 鈧321,170.21
The Deputy Superintendent of Police
The DSP answers to the superintendent and can take up the role in their absence.
Monthly salary according to grade
Deputy superintendent of Police (1): 鈧259,706.29
Deputy superintendent of police (2): 鈧265,707.25
Deputy superintendent of police (3): 鈧271,708.08
Deputy superintendent of police (4): 鈧277,708.90
Deputy superintendent of police (5): 鈧283,709.86
Deputy superintendent of police (6): 鈧289,710.68
Deputy superintendent of police (7): 鈧295,711.51
Deputy superintendent of police (8): 鈧301,712.33
The Asst. Superintendent of Police
Nigerian police ranks and salary according to grade
Assistant superintendent of police II (1): 鈧219,736.63
Assistant superintendent of police II (2): 鈧223,254.74
Assistant superintendent of police II (3): 鈧226,772.98
Assistant superintendent of police II (4): 鈧230,281.23
Assistant superintendent of police II (5): 鈧233,809.47
Assistant superintendent of police II (6): 鈧237,327.58
Assistant superintendent of police II (7): 鈧240,845.82
Assistant superintendent of police II (8): 鈧244,344.06
Assistant superintendent of police II (9): 鈧247,882.17
Assistant superintendent of police II (10): 鈧251,400.42
Assistant superintendent of police I (1): 鈧239,210.28
Assistant superintendent of police I (2): 鈧243,079.18
Assistant superintendent of police I (3): 鈧246,948.09
Assistant superintendent of police I (4): 鈧253,312.59
Assistant superintendent of police I (5): 鈧259,754.55
Assistant superintendent of police I (6): 鈧268,847.01
Assistant superintendent of police I (7): 鈧275,482.53
Assistant superintendent of police I (8): 鈧282,195.23
Assistant superintendent of police I (9): 鈧288,985.51
Assistant superintendent of police I (10): 鈧293,125.15
The Inspector of Police
Monthly salary according to grade
Inspector II/Cadet inspector (1): 鈧119,693.87
Inspector II/Cadet inspector (2) 鈧121,879.47
Inspector II/Cadet inspector (3): 鈧124,064.96
Inspector II/Cadet inspector (4): 鈧126,250.56
Inspector II/Cadet inspector (5): 鈧128,436.16
Inspector II/Cadet inspector (6): 鈧130,621.65
Inspector II/Cadet inspector (7): 鈧133,747.12
Inspector II/Cadet inspector (8): 鈧136,872.59
Inspector II/Cadet inspector (9): 鈧139,997.95
Inspector II/Cadet inspector (10): 鈧143,123.42
Sergeant Major
The highest-ranked non-commissioned officer of the NPF, and the highest junior officer of the force. A sergeant major offers assistance to administrative officers in regiments.
Monthly salary according to grade
Sergeant major (1): 鈧96,216.19
Sergeant major (2): 鈧99,233.25
Sergeant major (3): 鈧102,250.32
Sergeant major (4): 鈧105,267.53
Sergeant major (5): 鈧108,284.59
Sergeant major (6): 鈧111,301.66
Sergeant major (7): 鈧114,318.86
Sergeant major (8): 鈧117,335.93
Sergeant major (9): 鈧120,353.00
Sergeant major (10): 鈧123,370.20
Sergeant
A sergeant is a middle-ranked non-commissioned officer under the sergeant major.
Monthly salary according to grade
Police sergeant (1): 鈧77,974.65
Police sergeant (2): 鈧79,336.16
Police sergeant (3): 鈧80,617.34
Police sergeant (4): 鈧82,128.16
Police sergeant (5): 鈧85,639.11
Police sergeant (6): 鈧88,150.07
Police sergeant (7): 鈧90,660.89
Police sergeant (8): 鈧93,171.84
Police sergeant (9): 鈧95,682.80
Police sergeant (10): 鈧98,193.61
Corporal
This officer is responsible for the supervision and training of police officers. The corporal assumes the position of the sergeant when on the streets or in the absence of one.
Monthly salary according to grade
Police Corporal (1): 鈧71,809.19
Police Corporal (2): 鈧72,951.64
Police Corporal (3): 鈧74,093.95
Police Corporal (4): 鈧75,236.27
Police Corporal (5): 鈧76,378.72
Police Corporal (6): 鈧77,521.04
Police Corporal (7): 鈧78,663.35
Police Corporal (8): 鈧79,805.80
Police Corporal (9): 鈧81,002.13
Police Corporal (10): 鈧82,144.58
Constable
This is the lowest-ranked officer in the NPF, which includes newly employed graduates of the Nigeria Police Academy.
Monthly salary according to grade
Police constable II (1): 鈧68,262.29
Police constable II (2): 鈧69,035.85
Police constable II (3): 鈧69,809.41
Police constable II (4): 鈧70,582.97
Police constable II (5): 鈧71,356.54
Police constable II (6): 鈧72,130.10
Police constable II (7): 鈧72,903.66
Police constable II (8): 鈧73,677.22
Police constable II (9): 鈧74,450.78
Police constable II (10): 鈧75,224.48
Police constable I (1): 鈧69,524.55
Police constable I (2): 鈧70,475.23
Police constable I (3): 鈧71,426.04
Police constable I (4): 鈧72,376.85
Police constable I (5): 鈧73,327.66
Police constable I (6): 鈧74,278.47
Police constable I (7): 鈧75,229.28
Police constable I (8): 鈧76,180.09
Police constable I (9): 鈧77,130.90
Police constable I (10): 鈧78,081.71
Salary structure
During the heat of the protest against police brutality in October 2020, former president, Muhammadu Buhari, approved an increase in the salary paid to police officers.
In 2021, the then police affairs minister, Maigari Dingyadi, said the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved a further 20% increase from January 2022.
A document titled 鈥淣ew Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS) with 20% chart (Effective January 2022)鈥, obtained by , outlines the current Nigerian police ranks and salary paid to officers of the law in the country. Officers are paid according to their ranks and grades.
