IGP Disu Proposes 200% Gratuity for Retired Police Officers

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

Disu disclosed this on Sunday in Abuja, saying the proposal was before a Presidential Committee established to examine concerns raised by police personnel and recommend sustainable solutions to the force’s pension challenges.

He said the proposed arrangement would allow eligible officers to receive pension benefits linked to their last salaries, alongside an enhanced gratuity, subject to the committee’s recommendations and subsequent government approvals.

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).

According to the IGP, the proposed reforms are intended to address outstanding pension liabilities, improve retirement benefits and establish a more efficient system for administering pensions.

He said the initiative was also expected to address recurring demands by serving police officers to withdraw from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), an issue that has generated dissatisfaction among personnel and retirees.

Disu added that the proposed framework would consider officers who retired before any new arrangements take effect, with provisions to review their benefits in line with any revised terms rather than limiting changes to future retirees.

The police chief said President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in the pension dispute had raised expectations among retired officers, many of whom had complained about inadequate benefits, delayed payments and administrative difficulties.

He noted that timely access to retirement benefits was important for pensioners facing rising living costs and the need to meet household expenses and medical bills.

Disu also said the Federal Government had cleared outstanding pension payment arrears that had previously left some retirees waiting for up to two years. He added that pension increases had been introduced, with some beneficiaries reportedly receiving nearly twice their previous payments.

The IGP said continued engagement with the Presidency, PenCom and other relevant institutions would be important to sustaining the reform process and improving coordination among agencies responsible for pension policy, funding and administration.

He explained that the Presidential Committee was expected to recommend measures covering outstanding liabilities, funding arrangements and benefit administration.

However, Disu stressed that the proposed 200 per cent gratuity had not been approved and should not be regarded as an existing entitlement. Its adoption, eligibility requirements and implementation would depend on the committee’s findings, government approvals, available funding and the guidelines eventually established.