The Nigerian Senate took a significant step towards establishing an exclusive pension board for the Nigeria Police Force on Thursday, passing a bill for its second reading.
The move aims to address long-standing disparities between police pension benefits and those of other security agencies.
Senator Binos Dauda Yaroe (PDP, Adamawa South) sponsored the “Police Pension Board (Establishment) Bill,” arguing that the current system, which includes police officers in the general contributory pension scheme managed by PENCOM, disadvantages them compared to their counterparts in the military and intelligence services.
Yaroe highlighted stark differences in pension benefits, noting that a Deputy Superintendent of Police currently receives N2.5 million, while equivalent ranks in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and DSS receive N12.8 million. This disparity means police officers receive only 19.5% of the pension benefits awarded to their peers in sister agencies.
The proposed bill aims to bring “equality, equity and justice” to police pensions, potentially boosting morale among serving officers and improving the standard of living for retirees. Senators widely supported the bill during the debate, recognizing the need to better compensate police officers for their critical role in maintaining public safety.
Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who presided over the session, emphasized the importance of the legislation in recognizing the sacrifices made by police officers. “They lay down their lives while we are asleep; they are awake to protect us and our properties, so we need to do our best in terms of their pension,” Barau stated.
The Senate Committee on Police Affairs has been given four weeks to refine the bill and report back. If passed, this legislation could mark a significant change in how Nigeria compensates its police force, potentially aligning their retirement benefits more closely with those of other security agencies.
The bill’s progress reflects growing recognition of the need to reform police compensation and benefits, which could have far-reaching implications for law enforcement in Nigeria.
