A coalition of retired Nigerian police officers has publicly rejected the healthcare incentives recently announced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, calling them “insufficient and diversionary” in the face of deeper systemic grievances. The retirees, many of whom served for decades in the Nigeria Police Force, are demanding immediate removal from the controversial Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), which they claim has left them financially vulnerable and deprived of their rightful benefits.
The retirees argue that the pension scheme, managed by private Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), has failed to provide adequate post-service financial security. They insist on reverting to the Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS), which guarantees fixed monthly payments from the federal government.
Tinubu’s recent announcement of enhanced healthcare packages for retired officers was met with skepticism. The retirees say the incentives do not address the root problem of delayed and insufficient pension disbursements.
The group is calling for a full audit of pension deductions and remittances made during their years of service, citing widespread discrepancies and lack of transparency.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, retired Deputy Superintendent of Police, Alhaji Musa Ibrahim, stated: “We appreciate the gesture on healthcare, but it’s a distraction from the real issue. We served this country with loyalty and risked our lives. Now we are being shortchanged in retirement. We want out of the CPS.”
Another retiree, Mrs. Grace Okonkwo, added: “Many of us are living in poverty. Our pension accounts are riddled with errors, and we have no access to the funds we contributed. Healthcare incentives mean little when you can’t afford food or shelter.”
While the Presidency has yet to issue a formal response to the rejection, sources within the Ministry of Police Affairs indicate that consultations are ongoing. The National Assembly is also reportedly reviewing petitions submitted by the retirees, with some lawmakers expressing support for a legislative review of the CPS as it applies to uniformed personnel.
The Contributory Pension Scheme was introduced in 2004 under the Pension Reform Act to address inefficiencies in the old system. However, critics argue that it has disproportionately affected security personnel, whose unique service conditions warrant a more robust and guaranteed retirement structure.