Victor Ezeja
The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has called for a significant increase in police pension contributions, urging the Federal Government (FG) to raise its contribution from 10 per cent to 20 per cent to enhance retirement benefits for police officers.
This proposal is part of broader reforms aimed at improving the welfare of police personnel under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAccording to a statement released by PenCom, the Director-General, Ms Omolola Oloworaran, made the call during her visit to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, at Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Oloworaran’s visit to the IGP came after recent protests by retired police officers over poor welfare.
The retired officer, who claimed to be receiving peanuts as retirement benefits, demanded an exit from the Contributory Pension Scheme, citing delays and discrepancies in payments.
According to the statement, PenCom is also proposing raising police pensions to 75 per cent of their final salary before retirement, up from the current rate, to provide better financial security, a new health insurance scheme to cover medical expenses for retired officers, and expanding the Retirement Resettlement Fund to offer additional financial support to retiring officers.
PenCom is also collaborating with the Head of the Civil Service to implement a gratuity scheme in 2026, granting federal workers one year’s total emoluments at retirement.
The Commission opposed calls by retired officers to exit from the CPS, insisting that the issues can be resolved within the existing framework and that exiting would be counterproductive.
On his part, the IGP expressed support for PenCom’s reforms, emphasizing continued collaboration to address pension concerns.
Following the protest, President Bola Tinubu has ordered PenCom to resolve longstanding police pension issues, stressing that officers who serve the nation deserve to retire with dignity.
The reforms align with broader initiatives, including a free healthcare programme for low-income retirees and a minimum pension guarantee to protect vulnerable pensioners.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
