IG proposes 200% gratuity for retired police officers

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has proposed a 200 per cent gratuity for retired police officers as part of efforts to address longstanding pension challenges in the Nigeria Police Force.

The proposal is being considered by a presidential committee established to examine the concerns of police personnel and recommend sustainable solutions to the pension crisis.

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.

“The IG has intensified efforts to secure improved retirement benefits for personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, proposing a 200 per cent gratuity for retired officers as part of wider reforms to address longstanding pension challenges.

“Under the proposed arrangement, eligible officers could retire on pension benefits linked to their last salaries, alongside the enhanced gratuity.

“The package is also expected to address recurring protests by serving officers seeking to exit the Contributory Pension Scheme, a contentious issue within the force,” it partly read.

The proposal is also expected to address persistent protests by serving police officers demanding their exit from the Contributory Pension Scheme.

The initiative seeks to resolve outstanding pension liabilities, improve retirement benefits and establish a more efficient pension administration system.

It also proposes extending the reforms to officers who retired before the implementation of any new framework, with provisions to review their benefits in line with any revised terms.

President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in the police pension crisis has raised hopes among retired officers who have complained about inadequate benefits, delayed payments and administrative bottlenecks.

The Federal Government has reportedly cleared outstanding pension payment backlogs that previously left some retirees waiting for up to two years.

It has also introduced pension increases, with some beneficiaries receiving nearly double their previous payments.

Disu’s engagement with the Presidency, PenCom and other relevant institutions is expected to sustain efforts to resolve the challenges, particularly those relating to funding, outstanding liabilities and benefit administration.

However, the proposed 200 per cent gratuity has yet to be approved and remains subject to the committee’s recommendations, government approval, funding arrangements and implementation guidelines.

The final decision will determine the eligibility criteria and whether the proposed changes will apply to serving officers approaching retirement and existing pensioners.