IGP Disu Proposes 200% Gratuity, Improved Pensions for Retired Police Officers

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has proposed a 200 per cent gratuity and improved pension benefits for retired police officers as part of ongoing efforts to reform the Nigeria Police Force.

Disu disclosed this to journalists on Sunday in Abuja, saying the proposal had been submitted to a Presidential Committee established to examine concerns within the police force and recommend sustainable solutions.

He said the initiative was aimed at securing better retirement benefits for police personnel and addressing longstanding challenges associated with the force’s pension system.

According to the IGP, 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).

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

He explained that the proposed package was also intended to address recurring protests by serving police officers seeking to exit the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), which has remained a contentious issue within the force.

“The initiative is aimed at resolving the outstanding pension liabilities, providing more adequate retirement benefits and creating a more efficient pension administration system.

“It also seeks to cover officers who retired before the new framework takes effect, with provisions to review their benefits in line with the revised terms, rather than limiting reform to future retirees,” he said.

Disu noted that President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in the police pension crisis had raised expectations among retired officers, many of whom had complained about inadequate benefits, delayed payments and administrative bottlenecks.

He said timely access to pension benefits was crucial for retirees struggling to meet household expenses and medical bills amid rising living costs.

The IGP also disclosed that the Federal Government had cleared the backlog of pension payments that previously left some retirees waiting for up to two years, while introducing pension increases.

According to him, some beneficiaries are now receiving almost twice their previous pension payments.

“Our engagement with the presidency, PenCom and other relevant institutions is seen as important to sustaining the NPF reform momentum,” he said.

Disu added that the committee was expected to recommend measures to address outstanding liabilities, establish sustainable funding arrangements and improve the administration of pension benefits.

He said the committee would also develop a framework for resolving pension-related challenges and improving coordination among the institutions responsible for policy, funding and administration.

However, Disu stressed that the proposed 200 per cent gratuity had not been approved and remained subject to the committee’s deliberations, relevant government approvals, funding arrangements and implementation guidelines.

He cautioned that the proposal should not be regarded as an existing entitlement, adding that the committee’s final recommendations would determine whether it would be adopted.