The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bill seeking to establish the Nigerian Police Force Pension Board to administer a distinct pension scheme for personnel of the Force.
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),” stood in the name of the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo).
When established, the board will be responsible for managing and administering the pension matters of police officers, taking over that function from the National Pension Commission (PenCom) under the existing contributory pension arrangement.
The passage of the bill followed the consideration and adoption of the report of the House Committee on Police Affairs, which earlier reviewed the proposal at the committee stage.
According to the bill, the Nigerian Police Force Pension Board will be charged with the responsibility of administering, managing, and paying retirement benefits to officers and men of the Force in line with the provisions of the proposed law.
The legislation also seeks to exempt the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) established by the Pension Reform Act, 2014, placing the Force on a separate and dedicated pension system similar to that of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.
Proponents of the bill have argued that the current contributory pension arrangement has not adequately catered to the peculiar risks and conditions of police service, with many retired officers reportedly facing delays and hardship in accessing their entitlements.
By creating an independent pension board, lawmakers said, the bill aims to address longstanding grievances among retired and serving police officers, improve welfare administration, and enhance morale within the Force.
With its passage by the House, the bill will now be transmitted to the Senate for concurrence before being forwarded to the President for assent.
If signed into law, the Police Pension Board will become the statutory body responsible for managing police pensions.
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