ABUJA – The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has proposed a 200 per cent gratuity for retired police officers as part of efforts to address longstanding pension challenges in the Nigeria Police Force.
The proposal is before a presidential committee established to examine concerns surrounding police retirement benefits and recommend sustainable solutions to the crisis.
The committee comprises representatives of the Ministry of Finance, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Budget Office of the Federation and National Pension Commission (PenCom).
Under the proposed reform, eligible officers could receive pension benefits linked to their last salaries, alongside the enhanced gratuity.
The initiative is also expected to address persistent agitation by serving police officers seeking to exit the Contributory Pension Scheme, which has remained a contentious issue within the force.
Beyond improving retirement packages, the proposed reform seeks to resolve outstanding pension liabilities, streamline pension administration and ensure that retired officers receive adequate benefits after years of service.
It is also expected to consider officers who retired before the introduction of any new framework, with provisions for reviewing their benefits in line with any revised terms that may eventually be approved.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s intervention in the police pension crisis has raised hopes among retired officers, many of whom have complained about inadequate benefits, delayed payments and administrative bottlenecks.
For the retirees, improved pension arrangements and timely payment of entitlements are critical to meeting basic household needs, medical expenses and other financial obligations amid rising living costs.
The Federal Government has reportedly cleared a backlog of pension payments that previously left some retirees waiting for up to two years. It has also introduced pension increases, with some beneficiaries receiving nearly twice their previous payments.
Disu’s engagement with the Presidency, PenCom and other relevant government institutions is expected to strengthen efforts to find a lasting solution to the challenges facing police pensioners.
The committee is expected to examine outstanding liabilities, funding arrangements and benefit administration, with a view to establishing a framework that improves coordination among the agencies responsible for pension policy, funding and implementation.
However, the proposed 200 per cent gratuity and other changes to retirement benefits are still subject to the committee’s recommendations, government approval, funding arrangements and implementation guidelines.
The proposal is therefore not yet an approved entitlement, while the final recommendations will determine the benefits to be adopted, the categories of officers eligible and the modalities for implementation.