Reps to address plight of police pensioners occupying National Assembly Gate

By Gift Chapi-Odekina, Abuja

The House of Representatives on Wednesday resolved to engage the Senate over the lingering protest by retired police officers who have been camping at the entrance of the National Assembly for nearly two months over issues related to the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

The protesters are calling for the passage of a bill seeking to establish a Police Pension Board and remove the Nigeria Police Force from the CPS currently managed by the National Pension Commission (PenCom).

Although the House has already passed the bill and transmitted it to the Senate for concurrence, the upper chamber has yet to take final action before forwarding it to the President for assent.

The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance drawing attention to the difficult conditions faced by the retirees, who say they are experiencing hardship under the current pension structure and seek a more suitable arrangement.

Sponsor of the motion, Okey-Joe Onuakalasi, noted that police officers serve under demanding and high-risk conditions and argued that their pension system should reflect the nature of their service. He observed that several other security-related institutions—including the Armed Forces, intelligence agencies, and the Customs Service—operate under specialised pension frameworks tailored to their needs.

He expressed concern that many retired police personnel face financial challenges after decades of service and said the situation of those protesting at the National Assembly gate highlights the urgency of addressing their concerns.

The motion also noted that prolonged uncertainty over pension arrangements could affect the morale of serving officers and, by extension, internal security operations.

The House maintained that establishing a Police Pension Board with a distinct pension structure would align with similar reforms implemented for other security institutions and help restore confidence among police personnel.

Adopting the motion, the House resolved that its leadership will liaise with the Senate to fast-track concurrence on the bill and facilitate its transmission to the President for assent.

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