President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate rollout of free healthcare for low-income retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), as part of efforts to strengthen social protection and preserve dignity in retirement.
The president also ordered the prompt implementation of overdue pension increases and a minimum pension guarantee to shield vulnerable retirees from economic hardship.
A statement by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday in Abuja revealed that the directive followed a briefing by the Director-General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Ms. Omolola Oloworaran.
Tinubu further instructed the PenCom D-G to urgently resolve the longstanding police pension crisis, stressing that officers who dedicate their lives to protecting the nation deserve to retire in dignity and comfort.
The move comes after recent nationwide protests by retired police officers over poor pensions and harsh living conditions. The retirees had demanded the removal of the Nigeria Police Force from the CPS, citing systemic flaws in the current arrangement.
During the briefing, Oloworaran detailed PenCom’s plans to preserve the value of pension funds amid inflation and economic pressures.
She also revealed upcoming reforms, including the introduction of foreign currency contributions to enable Nigerians in the diaspora to participate in the scheme, as well as strategies to expand pension coverage and improve retiree welfare across the country.
