
Police welfare, the reason we want to establish Police Pension Board – Senate Committee
Police welfare, the reason we want to establish Police Pension Board – Senate Committee
Ms Omolola Oloworaran, Acting Director-General of National Pension Commission (PenCom), has urged the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), to remain with the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
Oloworaran said this during a public hearing on a bill for an Act to establish Police Pension Board, in Abuja on Tuesday.
Oloworaran, represented by the Commissioner of Administration, Dr Farouk Aminu, also reiterated PenCom’s commitment to Police welfare.
She said that pension must be affordable, sustainable and adequate.
“PenCom has consistently proposed practical solutions, including increasing pension contribution rates, offering additional retirement benefits, and implementing periodic pension reviews under the existing CPS framework.
“These measures are designed to enhance the financial well-being of retired police personnel without compromising fiscal discipline or administrative efficiency.
“Notably, the establishment of an Augmentation Fund and the enhancement of the Retiree Resettlement Scheme demonstrate PenCom’s commitment to addressing the unique needs of the police.
“The welfare of Nigeria Police personnel is paramount, the proposed bill is a step in the wrong direction.
“The CPS offers a balanced approach to achieving pension adequacy, affordability, and sustainability,” Oloworaran said.
She said that implementing PenCom’s recommendations was a more viable path to meeting the needs of police personnel while safeguarding the broader national interest.
Oloworaran said that the senate should prioritise those solutions and uphold the principles of Nigeria’s pension reform.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service, Sen. Cyril Fasuyi, said that the bill was to establish a board to oversee Police pension.
Fasuyi said that the committee intended to create an enabling environment for retired police officers.
Fasuyi said that the public hearing provides more information and an opportunity to various stakeholders.
Sen. Sen. Binos Yaroe, who sponsored the bill, said that retired Commissioners of Police take N70,000 while Assistant Superintendents of Police collect about N40, 000 to N50, 000 as pension.
He said that Military, Department of State Service (DSS), Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and National Intelligence Agency (NIA) had pulled out of CPS.
He, however, said that the NPF, which is the lead security agency in section 214 of the cconstitution, is left under CPS regulated by PenCom.
This, according to him, places retired police officers on wrong post-service employment in spite of their crucial role.
He said that the matter was not just about the police exiting, but improving their salaries.
“Even if they exit, with a poor salary, their pension will still be poor.
“Towards the end of the ninth assembly, the bill was passed but not signed because we started the process late. That’s why we started the process again early March 19 and July 4.”
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, said that the NPF wanted the police pension board established for improved welfare for retired police officers.
Egbetokun was represented by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police, Bala Chiroma.
The National Chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme Sector (NUPCPS), Mr Sylva Nwaiwu, said that CPS should be amended.
Nwaiwu said that CPS was good for the nation, adding that pension increments should always be encouraged.
Alhaji Sani Mustapha, the Executive Director of the Contributory Pension and Happy Retirement Advocacy (COPEHRA), said that CPS had proven to be resilient, transparent and sustainable,
He added that it was also effectively addressing the shortcomings of the previous pension system.
He said that keeping the NPF within the CPS aligns with best practices in pension management, ensuring their financial security while also supporting Nigeria’s broader economic development.
Mustapha said that the transition to a Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) would introduce significant risks, including fiscal unsustainability, delayed payments and potential economic setbacks.
He said that it was imperative to uphold the principles of equity, transparency and sustainability by maintaining the NPF’s inclusion in the CPS.
“My recommendation is to maintain the current system to safeguard the future of our police personnel and promote a robust economic environment in Nigeria.
“Any challenge that the Police may have in the administration of their pensions under the CPS should be discussed and resolved by PenCom and other relevant Government agencies,” Mustapha said.
The director said that there were many benefits in retaining police in the CPS.
He listed the benefits to include regulation and oversight, security and timeliness, economic independence, transparency and accountability, and alignment with global trends.
“The risks of establishing a separate pension board for DBS includes fiscal burden, lack of autonomy, economic instability and precedent setting,” Mustapha said. (NAN)
News
Multichoice announces price increase for GOtv, DStv subscription packages

Multichoice announces price increase for GOtv, DStv subscription packages
A leading pay-TV operator, Multichoice Nigeria, has announced another round of price increases across its subscription plans for both DStv and GOtv services. The new prices will come into effect on March 1, 2025.
In a notice sent to customers on Monday, the company outlined the upcoming changes, which will see significant price hikes across various packages.
The DStv Compact bouquet will rise from N15,700 to N19,000, reflecting a 25% increase. The DStv Compact Plus package will see a 20% jump, from N25,000 to N30,000.
The highest-tier DStv Premium package will also experience a 20% hike, increasing from N37,000 to N44,500.
For GOtv users, price adjustments are equally notable. The Jinja package will increase from N3,600 to N3,900, while the Jolli package will rise from N4,850 to N5,800.
The GOtv Max package will go up from N7,200 to N8,500, and the GOtv Supa package will climb from N9,600 to N11,400. The GOtv Supa Plus package will now cost N16,800, up from the previous N15,700.
The official notice from Multichoice, titled “Price Adjustments for DStv and GOtv Packages,” explained that the new prices were necessary to maintain the delivery of high-quality content and service.
The company noted that the adjustments were essential to ensure the continued provision of both local and international content through advanced technology.
“Dear Customer, please note that effective 1 March 2025, there will be a price adjustment on all DStv packages. This is to enable us to continue to offer our customers world-class home-grown and international content, delivered through the best technology,” the statement read.
This price increase follows a similar one implemented in May 2024, with Multichoice citing inflationary pressures, rising operational costs, and currency depreciation as the key reasons for the hikes.
The company pointed out the challenges posed by the significant drop in the naira’s value and the growing expenses tied to inflation in the country.
News
You got it all wrong – Presidency replies Osinbajo over IBB tormenting Tinubu’s comment

You got it all wrong – Presidency replies Osinbajo over IBB tormenting Tinubu’s comment
The Presidency through the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has strongly disagreed with Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s assertion that former military President Ibrahim Babangida was a “tormentor” of President Tinubu.
The controversy arose during the public presentation of Babangida’s autobiography, A Journey in Service, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja last week. Osinbajo, who reviewed the book, reflected on Tinubu’s role in resisting the military’s dissolution of the Senate after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
He humorously remarked that Tinubu, who was then a senator, was “tormented” by the military, including Babangida, for his attempts to reinstate the Senate, even suggesting that Tinubu was at the event to honor one of his tormentors.
However, Onanuga, speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, rejected Osinbajo’s characterization of Babangida. He emphasized that Babangida had actually been a significant source of inspiration for Tinubu’s political career.
According to Onanuga, Tinubu’s resistance to the military government, and the political course he charted thereafter, was deeply influenced by Babangida’s leadership and the broader political context of that era.
“I think the former Vice President got it wrong. I think Babangida was not really a tormentor of President Tinubu, don’t forget that President Tinubu said in his own extempore speech that he held Babangida as something, that he was the person that inspired him to get into politics.
“When Babangida came in, he was talking about new breed politicians and so on, and Tinubu like many of them were already technocrats or in private business and so on. All of them came out to participate in politics, that was what brought him in. So, he came there to pay homage,” Onanuga said.
Onanuga clarified that the real torment began under General Sani Abacha’s regime, when Tinubu, alongside some colleagues, made an effort to reconvene the Senate in Lagos.
He also praised Babangida for eventually acknowledging that MKO Abiola won the 1993 presidential election, although he noted that the admission came too late.
News
President Tinubu promises renovations of Police Barracks, improving mobility, robust Police welfare package

President Tinubu promises renovations of Police Barracks, improving mobility, robust Police welfare package
President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that his administration is working to enhance the nation’s security capabilities to effectively address the growing security challenges.
Speaking through his Vice, Senator Kashim Shettima, at the opening of the fifth edition of the Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers (CARSPO) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, President Tinubu emphasised the government’s commitment to improving the security infrastructure across the country.
The President noted that security is a key pillar for Nigeria’s socio-economic development, and his administration is focused on bolstering the operational readiness of security agencies. This includes providing the necessary equipment to handle emergencies and combat crime effectively.
“While the Nigeria Police Force is constitutionally empowered to maintain internal security, protect lives and property, and uphold public order, it is essential to recognise that security is a shared responsibility. Communities and citizens must actively collaborate with the police to foster a safer society,” Tinubu stated through his representative, Senator Shettima.
He highlighted that no matter how well-funded or equipped the police force is, it cannot succeed without the active support and trust of the public.
“Public engagement and trust are central to the process of inclusive policing,” the President affirmed.
Further reaffirming his administration’s commitment, President Tinubu pledged to enhance the Nigeria Police Force’s capacity to meet its constitutional duties, ensuring it is both effective and well-positioned to handle internal security.
He revealed that the federal government is focused on bridging gaps in security, infrastructure, and recruitment through a comprehensive program.
This initiative will include renovations of police barracks, improving police mobility, and upgrading essential combat and protective gear.
Additionally, Tinubu emphasised the importance of welfare for police personnel, pointing to the recent implementation of the new minimum wage as part of broader efforts to improve the living conditions of the Nigerian workforce, including law enforcement officers.
He assured that his administration will continue to collaborate with police leadership to provide financial incentives and motivate officers to perform at their highest levels.
The President also reiterated his administration’s commitment to reforming the country’s economic and security frameworks to restore investor confidence, stabilise the macroeconomic environment, and tackle inflation, marking his government’s multi-pronged approach to strengthening both the nation’s security and its economic foundation.
-
5 years ago
Our situation in Kano terrible – Gov Ganduje cries out
-
News3 weeks ago
FG pledges commitment to enhance Police officers Welfare, implement Tinubu’s 8-point agenda for NPF
-
News1 month ago
DPO under investigation for allegedly taking teenage girl to his home while in police custody
-
News1 month ago
JUST IN; Commissioner of Police bows out of Service
-
News4 weeks ago
JUST IN; IG of Police orders Police Commands to involve PCRC in their operations
-
News4 weeks ago
BREAKING; NLC declare nationwide protest
-
News4 weeks ago
JUST IN: 30 graves, shrine dangerous weapons found inside Hotel
-
News1 month ago
BREAKING; President Tinubu commissions Bola Ahmed Tinubu Barracks