Activist Omoyele Sowore Questions Priorities as Tinubu Rewards Super Falcons, Ignites Debate on Police Welfare

 

Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate and publisher of Sahara Reporters, has stirred national conversation once again. His latest critique centers on the Federal Government’s recent reward to Nigeria’s women’s football team, the Super Falcons, who won the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title for a record tenth time. While the victory itself has brought pride and celebration across the country, the accompanying financial rewards have not been met with universal applause.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through an official state gesture, gifted each player of the Super Falcons a generous sum of $100,000, equivalent to N150 million, along with the promise of housing. The reward was intended as a symbol of appreciation for the team’s commitment, preparation, and historic performance on the continental stage.

However, Sowore took issue with the disparity this gesture exposes when compared to the harsh realities faced by members of the Nigeria Police Force, particularly those who have retired. In a strongly worded post on his official Facebook page, Sowore juxtaposed the lavish treatment of the football team with the meager exit packages and difficult living conditions faced by officers who have served the country for decades.

His statement read, “Life is brutally unfair to Nigeria Police Force officers! Super Falcons won WAFCON, trained for 1 year, played for 1 month, were rewarded with $100,000 each and houses! Police officers protected them for decades, worked 35 years, retired with $1,500, no houses, no medicals, and a little pension!”

Adding fuel to his argument, Sowore referenced the luxurious post-service benefits that top political figures enjoy. “The President or the Governor who handed the awards? $1 billion in gratuity, lifetime pension, homes everywhere, full medicals!” he added, implying that the culture of rewarding those in public office far outweighs the treatment of everyday service personnel like police officers.

This is not the first time Sowore has spotlighted the plight of the Nigerian police. Just recently, he stood in solidarity with retired officers in Abuja, joining a protest that called attention to unpaid pensions and poor welfare packages. His presence at the protest and his ongoing commentaries signal a broader push for accountability and fairness in the treatment of Nigerian workers across various sectors.

The activist’s statement has sparked mixed reactions across social media and the political landscape. Supporters argue that while celebrating sports achievements is commendable, the glaring inequalities in the reward system cannot be ignored. Many have echoed Sowore’s sentiment, questioning why those who risk their lives daily in service of the nation are given so little in return upon retirement.

Critics, on the other hand, argue that comparing athletes and police officers is an unfair exercise. They maintain that both contributions are valid in their own right and that recognition should not be seen as a zero-sum game. To them, the Super Falcons deserve the reward for lifting national pride and making history in African football.

However, the broader question remains one of equity and national priorities. Sowore’s critique points to a larger issue that Nigeria has long grappled with, namely the imbalance in how the state values different categories of service and labor. Public servants, especially those in security and education, often end their careers in penury, despite years of service that helped sustain the country’s infrastructure and safety.

Calls for reform in the pensions and gratuity structure for Nigerian police officers have been ongoing for years. Advocacy groups continue to raise alarm over the conditions of service and the alarming number of ex-officers living in poverty. With Sowore’s recent statement now gaining traction, there may be renewed pressure on the Tinubu administration to address these long-standing concerns more decisively.

As Nigeria basks in the glory of another football title, the question remains whether national pride in sports will lead to more serious introspection on how the country honors its everyday heroes. For Sowore and many others, the conversation is not about denying athletes their due, but about ensuring that those who dedicate their lives to public service are not left behind.