IGP Disu Proposes 200% Gratuity, Improved Pensions For Retired Officers

The inspector-general of police, IGP Olatunji Disu has proposed a 200 per cent gratuity and improved pension benefits for retired police officers as a presidential committee considers ways to resolve longstanding complaints over the force’s pension system.

The proposal seeks to improve retirement benefits for eligible officers, including those who may have retired before a new pension framework takes effect, amid persistent concerns over inadequate payments and delays in accessing entitlements.

Retired police officers have been protesting over their payments plans. See here

The presidential committee, established to examine the pension challenges, 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).

Under the proposal, eligible officers could receive a gratuity equivalent to 200 per cent, alongside pension benefits linked to their last salaries. The final structure, however, will depend on the committee’s recommendations and the federal government’s decision.

The proposed changes also come against the backdrop of demands by serving police officers for an exit from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), which has remained a contentious issue within the force.

Disu’s intervention is aimed at securing a review that addresses the concerns of both serving personnel approaching retirement and former officers already receiving pensions under existing arrangements.

For many retired officers, the debate goes beyond the amount paid at retirement. Complaints over the adequacy of monthly pensions, delays in payment and administrative difficulties have continued to raise concerns about the financial security of personnel after years of service.

The proposed review is expected to consider outstanding pension liabilities, funding arrangements and the administration of benefits, with the participating institutions expected to help develop recommendations for a more sustainable system.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s intervention in the pension question has also raised expectations among retired personnel that the ongoing process could lead to changes in the existing arrangements.

A key issue for pensioners is whether any approved reforms would cover those who retired before the introduction of a new framework. The proposal envisages provisions for reviewing the benefits of eligible former officers, although the scope and conditions would depend on the final policy.

The committee’s recommendations are expected to guide decisions on the funding and implementation of any changes, as well as determine which categories of officers would qualify for improved benefits.

Meanwhile, the federal government has cleared the backlog of pension payments that previously left some retirees waiting for up to two years and introduced pension increases, with some beneficiaries receiving almost double their previous payments.