Some retired officers of the Nigeria Police Force on Tuesday appealed to President Bola Tinubu to sign the Police Exit Bill into law, saying it would significantly improve their welfare in retirement.
The retirees, under the umbrella of the Police Retired Officers Forum of Nigeria (PROF), said they have continued to face financial hardship after retirement, citing poor pensions and gratuities under the current Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
The National Coordinator of the forum, CSP Raphael Irowainu (retd), told journalists in Akure, Ondo State, that more than 30,000 members of the group are seeking exemption from the CPS, similar to arrangements granted to some other federal security agencies.
He said, “This press conference is convened to passionately urge President Bola Tinubu to graciously assent to the Police Exit Bill, which will ultimately exempt the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme.”
Irowainu explained that the bill, passed by the National Assembly in December 2025 and transmitted to the President for assent, should be signed in the interest of fairness, justice, and national security.
He argued that the legislation goes beyond welfare concerns, describing it as a strategic investment in national security.
“This bill is not merely a welfare reform; it is a strategic national security investment whose benefits will be felt across every community, state, and sector of the Nigerian Federation,” he said.
According to him, officers who are uncertain about their post-retirement future cannot be expected to perform optimally while in service.
“A motivated police force performs better in crime prevention and intelligence operations. Financial security after service encourages integrity during service,” he said.
The retired officers maintained that exiting the CPS would enhance professionalism, reduce corruption, and strengthen public confidence in the police.
They also urged President Tinubu to recall his record of prioritising police welfare during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State, saying the same commitment should be extended nationally.
“Assenting to this bill will cement your place in history as the President who courageously prioritised national security by securing the future of the nation’s largest internal security institution,” Irowainu added.
The group warned that it would embark on a nationwide peaceful protest if the bill is not signed into law before June 22, 2026.
