The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has ruled out the immediate exit of the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), opting instead to pursue sweeping pension reforms that could significantly improve retirement benefits for serving and retired police officers.
Speaking with State House correspondents in Abuja, PenCom Director-General Omolola Oloworaran said public reports suggesting the police had withdrawn from the CPS were inaccurate. According to her, the campaign for an exit is driven largely by concerns that police retirees receive lower benefits than members of the armed forces under a separate pension arrangement.
“The police have not exited the Contributory Pension Scheme. They want improved retirement benefits because they believe their pensions are not comparable to those of the military,” Oloworaran said.
She explained that PenCom’s priority is not to facilitate the police’s withdrawal from the CPS but to ensure officers receive more competitive retirement packages within the existing framework. Discussions are ongoing with relevant government authorities to address the disparity and improve post-service welfare.
The proposed reforms, which are awaiting presidential approval, represent one of the most significant overhauls of police retirement benefits in recent years. Under the package, retired officers would receive monthly pensions equivalent to 100% of their final salary for life, while gratuity payments would increase to 200% of annual emoluments.
The proposal also seeks to double the Federal Government’s monthly pension contribution for police personnel from 10% to 20%, while retaining employees’ contributions at 8%. In addition, PenCom is advocating the introduction of a dedicated health insurance scheme for retired officers to reduce healthcare costs after service.
Oloworaran acknowledged that opinions within the police remain divided, with some stakeholders still favouring a complete exit from the CPS. However, she maintained that most officers are primarily seeking improved financial security in retirement rather than a change in the pension system itself.
The reform effort follows President Bola Tinubu’s approval of a ₦758 billion pension bond aimed at clearing accumulated pension liabilities and arrears dating back to 2012. The President has also directed PenCom to work with relevant agencies to resolve longstanding pension concerns affecting police retirees.
Beyond the proposed reforms, PenCom has introduced a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform to improve service delivery by enabling contributors and retirees to lodge, monitor and resolve pension-related complaints more efficiently. The commission also reiterated that retirees with complete documentation should receive their benefits without undue delays.
If approved, the proposed measures could narrow the longstanding gap between police and military retirement benefits while reinforcing confidence in Nigeria’s Contributory Pension Scheme. The reforms are also expected to strengthen retirement security for thousands of serving police officers without dismantling the country’s pension framework.
