Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Disu has proposed a major increase in retirement benefits for police officers, including a 200 per cent gratuity, as the Federal Government considers reforms to address longstanding concerns over police pensions.
Disu disclosed the proposal to journalists in Abuja on Sunday, saying it was before a presidential committee established to examine the challenges facing police personnel and recommend sustainable solutions.
Under the proposed arrangement, eligible officers could receive pension benefits linked to their final salaries, alongside an enhanced gratuity.
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).
The proposed reforms are intended to address complaints about inadequate retirement benefits, delayed payments and administrative difficulties that have affected retired police officers.
They are also expected to address demands by serving officers seeking to withdraw from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), which has remained a contentious issue within the Nigeria Police Force.
Disu said the initiative would seek to resolve outstanding pension liabilities, improve retirement benefits and establish a more efficient system for administering pensions.
The proposal also envisages reviewing the benefits of officers who retired before a new framework takes effect, rather than restricting any approved changes to future retirees.
The move follows longstanding concerns among retired police personnel about their financial security after years of service. For many pensioners, timely payment of retirement benefits is essential to meeting household expenses, medical bills and other basic needs 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. Pension increases have also been introduced, with some beneficiaries reportedly receiving nearly double their previous payments.
The presidential committee is expected to make recommendations on outstanding liabilities, funding arrangements and benefit administration. Its findings will help guide decisions on the proposed reforms and how they could be implemented.
However, the proposed 200 per cent gratuity has not been approved and is not yet an existing entitlement. Its adoption will depend on the committee’s recommendations, government approval, available funding and implementation guidelines.
The final decision is expected to clarify the eligibility requirements and determine whether, and to what extent, the proposed changes will benefit serving officers approaching retirement and those already retired.
