The National Pension Commission (PENCOM) is proposing enhanced retirement benefits for Nigerian police officers under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) as part of efforts to improve the welfare and quality of life of police retirees.
The move is aimed at finding a lasting solution to the persistent agitation by police retirees for an exit from the CPS, driven largely by complaints of low pensions.
A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that under the proposed framework, retired police officers would receive a monthly pension equivalent to 100 per cent of their final salary for life — a demand that serving and retired police personnel have consistently pushed for over the years.
He added that the package also provides for gratuity payments amounting to 200 per cent of annual emoluments, a development expected to substantially improve retirement benefits for officers.
Similarly, under the proposed arrangement, the Federal Government is expected to increase its pension contribution for serving police officers from the current 10 per cent to 20 per cent monthly, while the employee contribution remains at eight per cent.
He explained: “The new arrangement, which includes a monthly pension equivalent to an officer’s last salary and increased gratuity benefits, is expected to strengthen financial security for retired personnel and boost the morale of officers still in active service.
“This measure is expected to significantly improve Retirement Savings Account (RSA) balances, enhance pension payouts, and strengthen the long-term sustainability of the pension structure.”
Expressing optimism about the proposal, the source stated that if approved by President Bola Tinubu, the augmentation plan for police personnel would reflect the government’s recognition of the police’s critical role in maintaining national security and public order, as well as the need to ensure officers’ dignity and stability after retirement.
The organised labour movement has consistently maintained that the enhanced CPS framework offers a more sustainable and transparent alternative to both the old Defined Benefits Scheme and the uncertainties surrounding a complete exit from the contributory system.
Labour leaders argued that strengthening the current pension structure and leveraging the institutional experience of NPF Pensions Limited would better guarantee the long-term welfare and financial security of serving and retired police personnel.
Police pensioners protesting against the CPS have insisted that the scheme — which requires employers and employees to make monthly contributions into Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs) managed by Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) — has worsened their welfare.
Some retirees claimed they receive between N30,000 and N80,000 monthly, while others described their lump-sum retirement benefits as grossly inadequate.
A major source of resentment among police pensioners is the perceived disparity between the police and other security agencies. The military, Department of State Services (DSS), and some intelligence agencies were exempted from the CPS and returned to more favourable pension arrangements, while the Nigeria Police Force remained under the scheme.
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