The retirees, many of whom served the nation for over three decades, accused the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) of breaching provisions of the contributory pension scheme and failing to implement a special pension structure reflective of the risks associated with police service.
For weeks, the retired officers have camped at the National Assembly gate under harsh weather conditions, holding placards and demanding legislative intervention. Lawmakers described the situation as a national embarrassment and a threat to the morale of serving police personnel.
Motion and Debate
Jesse Onuakalusi (LP, Lagos), who moved the motion, said the police—Nigeria’s frontline internal security institution—continues to operate under dangerous conditions, yet officers retire into hardship due to an unsuitable pension structure.
He noted that retirees face delayed payments, meagre lump-sum settlements and irregular monthly stipends, arguing that the contributory pension scheme under the Pension Reform Act 2024 fails to address the peculiarities of police service.
According to him, other security agencies such as the Armed Forces, intelligence services and Customs enjoy special pension arrangements that recognise their hazardous work environments.
Onuakalusi urged the Speaker and leadership of the House to visit the protesting officers at the National Assembly gate to hear their grievances and reassure them of parliamentary support.
Adding to the debate, Bamidele Salam (PDP, Osun), whose late father served as a police officer for 30 years, recalled previous attempts in the Ninth Assembly to remove the Police Force from the contributory pension scheme. He said those efforts were resisted by PENCOM and entrenched interests, questioning what the commission stands to lose by allowing the police a more suitable system.
Chairman of the House Committee on Police Affairs, Abubakar Makki (APC, Jigawa), said the 10th Assembly has already passed the police pension amendment bill, which was transmitted to the Senate on 28 October. He emphasised that the Senate must now concur for the bill to proceed to the President for assent.
Chairman of the House Committee on Pensions, Mohammed Jalo, added that the protesting officers may not be directing their grievances at the House, noting that the bill has successfully passed through all legislative stages in the lower chamber.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu confirmed that the bill, designated HB 979, was second on the House’s transmission list on 28 October, demonstrating full compliance with due legislative process.
Following an extended debate, Onuakalusi amended his motion, urging House leadership to interface with the Senate and expedite concurrence on the bill to address the grievances of the retirees.
Background: The Police Pension Crisis
The crisis stems from the placement of the Nigeria Police Force under the contributory pension scheme, a structure many officers argue does not reflect the hazardous nature of their work.
Earlier reports revealed that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, held several meetings with protesting retirees and formally wrote to Senate President Godswill Akpabio requesting urgent reforms to remove the Police from the contributory scheme.
Under the current structure, officers who retire after 30–35 years receive lump-sum payments far below expectations and monthly stipends too small to sustain basic living. Processing delays, poor returns on contributed funds and the absence of risk-adjusted compensation have worsened frustrations.
Unlike the Armed Forces, Customs and intelligence agencies—which enjoy defined and guaranteed pension structures—police retirees remain under a system many describe as unjust and unsuitable.
