Retired police officers urge Tinubu to sign bill exempting force from contributory pension scheme

A group of retired police officers has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to sign the Police Exit Bill into law, arguing that the current contributory pension scheme has left many former officers struggling with meagre pensions and gratuities.

Speaking under the banner of the Police Retired Officers Forum of Nigeria in Akure, the group’s national coordinator, Raphael Irowainu, said the bill was passed by the National Assembly in December 2025 and transmitted to the President for assent. He urged Tinubu to approve it in the interest of fairness, justice, and national security.

The retired officers are seeking exemption from the Contributory Pension Scheme, noting that similar exemptions have been granted to personnel of other federal security agencies. Irowainu stated that the forum has over 30,000 members and described the bill as a strategic national security investment rather than a mere welfare reform.

He argued that officers uncertain about their future after retirement cannot perform optimally in service, adding that financial security after service encourages integrity and helps the police force perform better in crime prevention.

The group recalled Tinubu’s record of prioritising police welfare as Lagos State governor and urged him to extend the same commitment nationally. The retirees warned that they would embark on a nationwide peaceful protest if the bill is not signed into law before June 22, 2026.