Victory for retired and serving Police officers as Senate approves Bill creating Police Pension Board

Victory for retired and serving Police officers as Senate approves Bill creating Police Pension Board

The Senate on Wednesday passed the Nigeria Police Force Pension Board Bill, a landmark move that will remove the Police from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and establish a separate pension system dedicated solely to police personnel.

The bill, earlier approved by the House of Representatives and forwarded for concurrence, was adopted after a clause-by-clause review by the Committee of the Whole, culminating in its third reading.

Its passage marks a major victory for serving and retired police officers, who have long demanded a pension structure similar to that of the military and intelligence services, both of which operate under a Defined Benefit Scheme.

Under the legislation, two major reforms will take effect:

Creation of an Independent NPF Pension Board: The board will assume full responsibility for managing retirement benefits, gratuities, and all pension-related matters for Nigeria Police Force personnel. It replaces the current arrangement overseen by the National Pension Commission (PenCom).

Exit from the Contributory Pension Scheme: Amendments to the Pension Reform Act, 2014 formally exempt the Police from the CPS. The move addresses long-standing concerns over delayed payments, administrative hurdles, and the perceived disadvantage police officers face compared to other security agencies.

Lawmakers say the new structure will: Boost morale among serving officers by guaranteeing a more reliable pension system, Ease the financial strain many retired officers experienced under the CPS, Place police welfare on par with other key security institutions.

With passage secured in both chambers of the National Assembly, the harmonized bill will now be forwarded to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent.