Reps Approve Bill to Create Nigerian Police Force Pension Board

The Nigerian Police Force Pension Board Bill seeks to create a new pension system solely for police officers.
The bill exempts the Nigeria Police Force from the current Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
Lawmakers say the reform will end pension delays and hardships faced by retired police officers.
Once signed into law, the Police Pension Board will manage all police retirement benefits.

The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a crucial bill to establish the Nigerian Police Force Pension Board, paving the way for a distinct pension system for police officers across the country.

The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Establish the Nigerian Police Force Pension Board and to Exempt the Force from the Application of the Contributory Pension Scheme under the Pension Reform Act, 2014, and for Related Matters (HB. 979),” was sponsored by the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo).

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Under the new proposal, the Nigerian Police Force Pension Board will be fully responsible for administering, managing, and paying retirement benefits to police officers, a function currently handled by the National Pension Commission (PenCom).

The House Committee on Police Affairs, which reviewed and adopted the report before its passage, explained that the board’s creation would give the Police Force more control over the welfare of its members.

Lawmakers noted that the present Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) has failed to adequately address the peculiar challenges faced by police officers, including delays and difficulty in accessing retirement benefits.

According to supporters of the bill, establishing an independent pension board similar to that of the Armed Forces and other security agencies would resolve long-standing welfare issues within the police service.

“The Police deserve a fair and functional pension system that reflects the risks of their profession,” one lawmaker said during the debate. “This bill ensures that officers who dedicate their lives to national security will retire with dignity.”

With its passage, the bill will now be transmitted to the Senate for concurrence and later to the President for assent. Once signed into law, the Nigerian Police Force Pension Board will officially become the body responsible for managing police pensions across Nigeria.

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