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’ve ever been curious about the Nigerian police ranks and salary structure, this article answers your questions.
A brief history
According to the NPF, 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.
Ranks of the Nigerian Police Force
Nigerian police officers are deployed from across the 36 states of the country and the capital to “fight crime, criminality and ensure the maintenance of law and order vis-à-vis peaceful co-existence in the society.”
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.
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): ₦1.543,960.95
Inspector-General (2): ₦1.701,188.95
Inspector-General (3): ₦1.849,000.29
Inspector-General (4): ₦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’oje and Bala Ciroma are the current Deputy Inspectors-General of Police.
Monthly salary according to grade
Deputy inspector-general (1): ₦1,405,277.58
Deputy inspector-general (2): ₦1,558,160.45
Deputy inspector-general (3): ₦1,706,152.46
Deputy inspector-general (4): ₦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): ₦867,552.16
Assistant Inspector-General (2): ₦1,018,009.62
Assistant Inspector-General (3): ₦1,168,071.66
Assistant Inspector-General (4): ₦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): ₦849,977.67
Commissioner of police (2): ₦869,472.56
Commissioner of police (3): ₦887,087.64
Commissioner of police (4): ₦909,435.78
Commissioner of police (5): ₦929,497.93
Commissioner of police (6): ₦960,137.01
The Deputy Commissioner of Police
A DCP oversees an area command. They’re 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): ₦420,772.22
Deputy commissioner of police (2): ₦432,576.03
Deputy commissioner of police (3): ₦443,576.03
Deputy commissioner of police (4): ₦454,977.94
Deputy commissioner of police (5): ₦466,379.84
Deputy commissioner of police (6): ₦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): ₦382.860.45
Asst. commissioner of police (2): ₦396.258.98
Asst. commissioner of police (3): ₦409,847.23
Asst. commissioner of police (4): ₦423,626.20
Asst. commissioner of police (5): ₦433,396.91
Asst. commissioner of police (6): ₦447,459.47
The Chief Superintendent of Police
Monthly salary according to grade
Chief superintendent of police (1): ₦338,759.83
Chief superintendent of police (2): ₦346,451.39
Chief superintendent of police (3): ₦354,306.95
Chief superintendent of police (4): ₦362,162.38
Chief superintendent of police (5): ₦370,017.94
Chief superintendent of police (6): ₦377,873.50
Chief superintendent of police (7): ₦385,728.92
Chief superintendent of police (8): ₦393,584.48
The Superintendent of Police
Monthly salary according to grade
Superintendent of police (1): ₦276,759.05
Superintendent of police (2): ₦283,103.54
Superintendent of police (3): ₦289,447.89
Superintendent of police (4): ₦295,792.39
Superintendent of police (5): ₦302,136.88
Superintendent of police (6): ₦308,481.37
Superintendent of police (7): ₦314,825.72
Superintendent of police (8): ₦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): ₦259,706.29
Deputy superintendent of police (2): ₦265,707.25
Deputy superintendent of police (3): ₦271,708.08
Deputy superintendent of police (4): ₦277,708.90
Deputy superintendent of police (5): ₦283,709.86
Deputy superintendent of police (6): ₦289,710.68
Deputy superintendent of police (7): ₦295,711.51
Deputy superintendent of police (8): ₦301,712.33
The Asst. Superintendent of Police
Nigerian police ranks and salary according to grade
Assistant superintendent of police II (1): ₦219,736.63
Assistant superintendent of police II (2): ₦223,254.74
Assistant superintendent of police II (3): ₦226,772.98
Assistant superintendent of police II (4): ₦230,281.23
Assistant superintendent of police II (5): ₦233,809.47
Assistant superintendent of police II (6): ₦237,327.58
Assistant superintendent of police II (7): ₦240,845.82
Assistant superintendent of police II (8): ₦244,344.06
Assistant superintendent of police II (9): ₦247,882.17
Assistant superintendent of police II (10): ₦251,400.42
Assistant superintendent of police I (1): ₦239,210.28
Assistant superintendent of police I (2): ₦243,079.18
Assistant superintendent of police I (3): ₦246,948.09
Assistant superintendent of police I (4): ₦253,312.59
Assistant superintendent of police I (5): ₦259,754.55
Assistant superintendent of police I (6): ₦268,847.01
Assistant superintendent of police I (7): ₦275,482.53
Assistant superintendent of police I (8): ₦282,195.23
Assistant superintendent of police I (9): ₦288,985.51
Assistant superintendent of police I (10): ₦293,125.15
The Inspector of Police
Monthly salary according to grade
Inspector II/Cadet inspector (1): ₦119,693.87
Inspector II/Cadet inspector (2) ₦121,879.47
Inspector II/Cadet inspector (3): ₦124,064.96
Inspector II/Cadet inspector (4): ₦126,250.56
Inspector II/Cadet inspector (5): ₦128,436.16
Inspector II/Cadet inspector (6): ₦130,621.65
Inspector II/Cadet inspector (7): ₦133,747.12
Inspector II/Cadet inspector (8): ₦136,872.59
Inspector II/Cadet inspector (9): ₦139,997.95
Inspector II/Cadet inspector (10): ₦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): ₦96,216.19
Sergeant major (2): ₦99,233.25
Sergeant major (3): ₦102,250.32
Sergeant major (4): ₦105,267.53
Sergeant major (5): ₦108,284.59
Sergeant major (6): ₦111,301.66
Sergeant major (7): ₦114,318.86
Sergeant major (8): ₦117,335.93
Sergeant major (9): ₦120,353.00
Sergeant major (10): ₦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): ₦77,974.65
Police sergeant (2): ₦79,336.16
Police sergeant (3): ₦80,617.34
Police sergeant (4): ₦82,128.16
Police sergeant (5): ₦85,639.11
Police sergeant (6): ₦88,150.07
Police sergeant (7): ₦90,660.89
Police sergeant (8): ₦93,171.84
Police sergeant (9): ₦95,682.80
Police sergeant (10): ₦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): ₦71,809.19
Police Corporal (2): ₦72,951.64
Police Corporal (3): ₦74,093.95
Police Corporal (4): ₦75,236.27
Police Corporal (5): ₦76,378.72
Police Corporal (6): ₦77,521.04
Police Corporal (7): ₦78,663.35
Police Corporal (8): ₦79,805.80
Police Corporal (9): ₦81,002.13
Police Corporal (10): ₦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): ₦68,262.29
Police constable II (2): ₦69,035.85
Police constable II (3): ₦69,809.41
Police constable II (4): ₦70,582.97
Police constable II (5): ₦71,356.54
Police constable II (6): ₦72,130.10
Police constable II (7): ₦72,903.66
Police constable II (8): ₦73,677.22
Police constable II (9): ₦74,450.78
Police constable II (10): ₦75,224.48
Police constable I (1): ₦69,524.55
Police constable I (2): ₦70,475.23
Police constable I (3): ₦71,426.04
Police constable I (4): ₦72,376.85
Police constable I (5): ₦73,327.66
Police constable I (6): ₦74,278.47
Police constable I (7): ₦75,229.28
Police constable I (8): ₦76,180.09
Police constable I (9): ₦77,130.90
Police constable I (10): ₦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 “New Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS) with 20% chart (Effective January 2022)”, obtained by DUBAWA, 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.
