Economic hardship: IGP pushes for improved police pensions as presidential committee weighs reforms

From Molly Kilete, Abuja

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, has proposed a 200 per cent gratuity to improve the retirement benefits of personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.

It is also expected to address recurring protests by serving officers seeking to exit the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

The proposal, which is part of a wider reform to address longstanding pension challenges, is currently under consideration by a presidential committee set up to examine police concerns and recommend sustainable solutions.

The committee comprises representatives of the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, the Budget Office of the Federation and the National Pension Commission (PenCom).

Under the proposed arrangement, eligible officers could retire on pension benefits linked to their last salaries, alongside the enhanced gratuity. The package is also expected to address recurring protests by serving officers seeking to exit the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), a contentious issue within the force.

The initiative aims to resolve outstanding pension liabilities, provide more adequate retirement benefits and create a more efficient pension administration system. It also seeks to cover officers who retired before any new framework takes effect, with provisions to review their benefits in line with the revised terms, rather than limiting reform to future retirees.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s intervention in the police pension crisis has raised expectations among retired officers, who have long complained about inadequate benefits, delayed payments and administrative bottlenecks. For many pensioners, timely access to benefits is essential for meeting household expenses and medical bills amid rising living costs.

The Federal Government has reportedly cleared the backlog of pension payments that previously left some retirees waiting for up to two years and introduced pension increases, with some beneficiaries receiving almost double their previous payments.

Disu’s engagement with the Presidency, PenCom and other relevant institutions is seen as important to sustaining reform momentum. The committee is expected to recommend measures on outstanding liabilities, funding arrangements and benefit administration, providing a framework for resolving the pension challenges and improving coordination among the institutions responsible for policy, funding and administration.

The proposal, however, remains subject to the committee’s deliberations, relevant government approvals, funding arrangements and implementation guidelines. The 200 per cent gratuity should not be regarded as an approved or existing entitlement. The final outcome will determine whether it is adopted, which officers are eligible and how any approved changes are implemented.

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