Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Rilwan Disu has proposed a 200 per cent gratuity payment and improved pension benefits for retired police officers as the Federal Government considers reforms to address longstanding concerns over police retirement benefits.
The proposal comes amid growing calls from serving and retired police personnel for a more sustainable pension arrangement, with many retirees expressing dissatisfaction with the benefits they receive under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
The proposed changes could improve retirement benefits for eligible officers, but the final package will depend on the recommendations of a presidential committee and the Federal Government’s approval.
According to reports, the proposed arrangement includes a gratuity equivalent to 200 per cent of annual emoluments and improved monthly pension benefits linked to officers’ final salaries.
However, the proposal has not yet been confirmed as an approved government policy, and the authorities have yet to establish the final eligibility conditions and implementation timetable.
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What IGP Disu Is Proposing
Disu’s proposal focuses on improving the financial security of police officers after retirement through enhanced gratuity payments and better monthly pensions.
Gratuity is a lump-sum payment made to an eligible employee upon retirement, while a pension provides continuing income after the end of active service.
Under the proposed arrangement, the 200 per cent gratuity would form part of a wider effort to improve the retirement package available to eligible police personnel.
The proposal also seeks to address concerns about the relationship between officers’ earnings before retirement and the pension income they receive afterwards.
The final structure, including how gratuity would be calculated and which categories of retirees would qualify, remains subject to the ongoing review.
Federal Government Reviews Police Pension System
The pension proposal is part of a wider effort by the Federal Government to address complaints from police retirees and serving officers approaching retirement.
A presidential committee has been examining options for improving retirement benefits, with representatives of relevant government institutions involved in the process.
The institutions include 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 committee is expected to consider the financial implications of proposed reforms, outstanding pension obligations and the arrangements required to implement any approved changes.
The review comes as authorities consider how to improve retirees’ income while ensuring that any new pension structure can be funded sustainably.
Why Retired Police Officers Want Pension Reform
Police retirees have repeatedly complained that the existing pension arrangement does not adequately reflect their years of service or the rising cost of living.
Some pensioners have reported receiving relatively low monthly payments, while others have raised concerns about delays in accessing retirement benefits and the adequacy of lump-sum payments.
Retired officers have also called for the Nigeria Police Force to exit the Contributory Pension Scheme, arguing that the arrangement leaves them financially disadvantaged compared with personnel in some other security institutions.
The Police Retired Officers Forum of Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to consider a dedicated pension arrangement for police personnel.
The Ministry of Police Affairs has acknowledged these concerns and said changes to the existing scheme would require careful policy, legal and executive consideration.
Retirees Have Demanded Higher Gratuity Payments
The latest proposal comes after retired police officers under the Contributory Pension Scheme issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government, the National Pension Commission and the IGP over outstanding pension demands.
In October, the retirees called for a gratuity equivalent to 300 per cent of annual emoluments and an increase in monthly pension benefits to 100 per cent of the applicable salary benchmark.
They also demanded concrete steps towards fulfilling commitments reportedly made during earlier negotiations.
The retirees warned that failure to address their demands could lead to a peaceful protest in Abuja on November 2, 2026.
The difference between the retirees’ demand for 300 per cent gratuity and the 200 per cent proposal attributed to the IGP highlights the need for further negotiations before a final agreement can be established.
What the Proposed Changes Could Mean for Police Pensioners
If approved and implemented, the proposed reforms could increase the lump-sum retirement benefits available to eligible officers and improve their monthly income after leaving active service.
However, the actual impact will depend on the final terms, the method used to calculate benefits, the treatment of officers who have already retired and the funding arrangements adopted by the government.
It also remains unclear whether the final package will address all the concerns raised by retirees, including their demand to leave the Contributory Pension Scheme.
For now, the proposal represents a step in the ongoing discussion over police welfare and retirement security rather than a guarantee that every retired officer will immediately receive higher benefits.
The Federal Government’s eventual decision will determine whether the proposed gratuity and pension improvements become part of a new retirement framework for Nigeria Police Force personnel.