IGP Seeks Better Pension, 200% Gratuity for Retired Policemen

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has renewed efforts to improve retirement benefits for personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.

Disu is pushing for a 200 per cent gratuity for retired officers as part of broader reforms to address persistent pension challenges in the force.

A Presidential committee is currently considering the proposal alongside other measures aimed at finding lasting solutions to the police pension crisis.

The committee includes officials from 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.

Under the proposed arrangement, eligible officers could receive pensions tied to their last salaries. The package would also include the proposed enhanced gratuity.

The reform also seeks to address repeated demands from serving police officers to leave the Contributory Pension Scheme. The scheme has remained a major source of disagreement within the force.

The proposed changes aim to clear outstanding pension liabilities and improve retirement benefits for police personnel. They also seek to make pension administration more efficient.

Importantly, the proposed framework could cover officers who retired before its implementation. Their benefits could undergo a review in line with any new terms approved by the government.

The development follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s intervention in the longstanding police pension crisis. Retired officers have repeatedly complained about poor benefits, payment delays and administrative difficulties.

For many pensioners, timely payment remains crucial as rising living costs continue to affect household finances. Medical expenses have also increased the pressure on retirees who depend on their pensions.

The Federal Government has reportedly cleared a backlog that left some police pensioners waiting for as long as two years. It has also introduced pension increases, with some beneficiaries receiving nearly twice their previous payments.

Disu’s engagements with the Presidency, PenCom and other relevant institutions have therefore become important to the reform process. The Presidential committee is expected to examine outstanding liabilities, funding options and benefit administration.

Its recommendations could also strengthen coordination among government agencies responsible for police pension policy, funding and administration.

However, the proposed 200 per cent gratuity remains subject to the committee’s recommendations and subsequent government approval. It does not yet represent an approved entitlement for retired police officers.

The final decision will determine the officers who qualify, the applicable benefits and how any approved changes will take effect.