POLICE Salary Scale Nigeria 2026 — Full Grade Table
Nigeria Police Force Pay Structure
Covers: Officers and constables of the Nigeria Police Force. Salaries range from ₦70,000/month to ₦1,192,317/month.
What is the POLICE Salary Scale?
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) pay structure covers approximately 370,000 police personnel from Constable to Inspector-General. It is administered by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) through the Police Service Commission. The structure includes 15 grade levels from Constable through the officer ranks. Police pay improved substantially following the 2024 minimum wage revision, with Constables now earning ₦70,000/month as the minimum. However, the NPF continues to face significant welfare challenges including poor accommodation, inadequate operational equipment, and inconsistent pay for state-deployed police.
Who Qualifies for POLICE?
Recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force at the Constable level requires SSCE/WAEC with a minimum of 5 O-Level credits. Sub-Inspector and Inspector entry requires OND or NCE. Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (CASP) recruitment requires a BSc/HND. The Police Academy Wudil (Kano) trains Cadet ASPs through a 3-year programme. The DIG/IGP levels are typically reached through promotion from within the service.
POLICE Full Grade Table 2026 — All 15 Grades
| Grade | Role / Title | Entry Qualification | Step 1 Annual | Step 1 Monthly | Step 3 Annual | Step 6 Annual | Step 9 (max) | Take-home est. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NPF-01 Entry | Constable | SSCE 5 credits | ₦840,000 | ₦70,000 /mo | ₦890,000 | ₦960,000 | ₦1,055,000 | ₦120,899–₦145,445 |
| NPF-02 | Lance Corporal | Promotion | ₦945,000 | ₦78,750 /mo | ₦1,000,000 | ₦1,085,000 | ₦1,195,000 | ₦132,887–₦161,429 |
| NPF-03 | Corporal | Promotion | ₦1,050,000 | ₦87,500 /mo | ₦1,115,000 | ₦1,215,000 | ₦1,340,000 | ₦144,875–₦177,983 |
| NPF-04 | Sergeant | Promotion | ₦1,190,000 | ₦99,166 /mo | ₦1,265,000 | ₦1,380,000 | ₦1,520,000 | ₦160,857–₦198,533 |
| NPF-05 | Inspector | OND / NCE direct entry or promotion | ₦1,350,000 | ₦112,500 /mo | ₦1,440,000 | ₦1,575,000 | ₦1,735,000 | ₦179,125–₦223,079 |
| NPF-06 | Sub-Inspector | BSc/HND (Cadet ASP track) | ₦1,550,000 | ₦129,166 /mo | ₦1,660,000 | ₦1,820,000 | ₦2,005,000 | ₦201,957–₦253,904 |
| NPF-07 | Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) | BSc / Police Academy | ₦1,800,000 | ₦150,000 /mo | ₦1,940,000 | ₦2,135,000 | ₦2,350,000 | ₦230,499–₦293,291 |
| NPF-08 | Deputy Superintendent (DSP) | Promotion from ASP | ₦2,200,000 | ₦183,333 /mo | ₦2,380,000 | ₦2,630,000 | ₦2,895,000 | ₦276,166–₦355,512 |
| NPF-09 | Superintendent of Police (SP) | Promotion | ₦2,700,000 | ₦225,000 /mo | ₦2,940,000 | ₦3,270,000 | ₦3,600,000 | ₦333,250–₦436,000 |
| NPF-10 | Chief Superintendent (CSP) | Promotion | ₦3,400,000 | ₦283,333 /mo | ₦3,720,000 | ₦4,150,000 | ₦4,570,000 | ₦413,166–₦546,741 |
| NPF-11 | Assistant Commissioner (ACP) | Promotion | ₦4,300,000 | ₦358,333 /mo | ₦4,730,000 | ₦5,290,000 | ₦5,820,000 | ₦515,916–₦689,450 |
| NPF-12 | Commissioner of Police (CP) | Promotion | ₦5,500,000 | ₦458,333 /mo | ₦6,060,000 | ₦6,800,000 | ₦7,480,000 | ₦652,916–₦878,966 |
| NPF-13 | Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) | Promotion | ₦7,200,000 | ₦600,000 /mo | ₦7,960,000 | ₦8,960,000 | ₦9,855,000 | ₦846,999–₦1,150,112 |
| NPF-14 | Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) | Promotion | ₦9,500,000 | ₦791,666 /mo | ₦10,530,000 | ₦11,920,000 | ₦13,110,000 | ₦1,109,582–₦1,521,725 |
| NPF-15 Top | Inspector-General of Police (IGP) | Presidential appointment | ₦12,000,000 | ₦1,000,000 /mo | — | ₦14,307,806 | ₦14,307,806 | ₦1,395,000–₦1,658,474 |
Take-home estimate adds 37% allowances to monthly basic + ₦25,000 fixed. Steps 2, 4, 5, 7, 8 are intermediate — add proportionally. Figures are basic salary only. Updated: September 4, 2026.
💡 POLICE Take-Home Pay Calculator 2026
Select your grade and step to estimate monthly take-home pay including all 6 POLICE allowances.
⚠️ Estimates only. Actual pay depends on your posting, step, and current NSIWC circulars. Verify with your payroll office.
POLICE Allowances 2026
In addition to basic salary, POLICE workers receive the following allowances. These significantly increase total take-home pay above the basic salary figures in the grade table.
| Allowance | Type | Rate | Basis | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing Allowance | Percent | 15% | of annual basic salary | Or police barracks accommodation |
| Transport Allowance | Percent | 12% | of annual basic salary | Monthly |
| Duty Allowance | Variable | 10000–30000 | per month | Varies by posting and duty type |
| Plainclothes Allowance | Fixed | ₦5,000/mo | per month | Detectives and plainclothes units |
| Leave Allowance | Percent | 10% | of annual basic salary | Annual |
| Risk Allowance | Fixed | ₦20,000/mo | per month | Operational postings — revised 2024 |
POLICE in Context — 2026
The Nigeria Police Force has faced persistent public criticism over low pay, corruption, extortion (particularly associated with SARS/FSARS, disbanded after the #EndSARS protests of October 2020), and poor conditions of service. The #EndSARS movement specifically highlighted how low police pay — combined with a culture of impunity — contributed to officers supplementing income through extortion. Successive Police Service Commissions have attempted reform, with limited sustained success.
FAQs — POLICE Salary Scale Nigeria
What is the POLICE salary scale in Nigeria?
POLICE (Nigeria Police Force Pay Structure) is the salary structure for officers and constables of the nigeria police force in Nigeria. The entry-level grade earns approximately ₦70,000/month basic at Step 1. The highest grade reaches approximately ₦1,192,317/month. The scale has 15 grade levels and 6 allowance categories. It is administered by the NPF / IGP. Last updated: September 2026.
How much does a POLICE worker earn per month in Nigeria?
Monthly salaries under POLICE range from approximately ₦70,000 at entry level to ₦1,192,317 at the top grade. These are basic salary figures — total take-home is higher when housing, transport, and other allowances are added. Standard allowances total approximately 37% of annual basic salary per year. Fixed allowances add approximately ₦25,000/month on top.
How does POLICE compare to the minimum wage?
Nigeria's minimum wage is ₦70,000/month (₦840,000/year) as of the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act. The POLICE entry grade earns approximately ₦70,000/month basic — ₦0/month above the minimum wage.
What allowances do POLICE workers receive?
POLICE workers receive the following allowances: Housing Allowance: 15% of of annual basic salary (Or police barracks accommodation); Transport Allowance: 12% of of annual basic salary (Monthly); Duty Allowance: ₦10,000 variable (Varies by posting and duty type); Plainclothes Allowance: ₦5,000 fixed (Detectives and plainclothes units); Leave Allowance: 10% of of annual basic salary (Annual); Risk Allowance: ₦20,000 fixed (Operational postings — revised 2024). These allowances are added to basic salary to determine total take-home pay.
Who qualifies for POLICE in Nigeria?
Recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force at the Constable level requires SSCE/WAEC with a minimum of 5 O-Level credits. Sub-Inspector and Inspector entry requires OND or NCE. Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (CASP) recruitment requires a BSc/HND. The Police Academy Wudil (Kano) trains Cadet ASPs through a 3-year programme. The DIG/IGP levels are typically reached through promotion from within the service.