The House of Representatives has resolved to open talks with the Senate over the fate of a bill seeking to overhaul the pension system for retired police officers, following nearly two months of continuous protests at the entrance of the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
The retirees, many of whom say they are unable to meet basic needs, have been demanding the passage of legislation to establish a Police Pension Board and remove the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) currently overseen 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 sending it to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
The latest intervention by the House followed a motion of urgent public importance moved on Wednesday, drawing attention to the deteriorating welfare situation of the protesting retirees.
Sponsor of the motion, Hon. Okey-Joe Onuakalasi, argued that police officers serve under uniquely dangerous and stressful conditions and that their pension arrangements should reflect that reality.
He noted that other security-related institutions—including the Armed Forces, intelligence services, and the Nigeria Customs Service—already operate under specialised pension schemes tailored to their mandates, while police officers remain under a structure many of them consider inadequate.
Onuakalasi expressed concern that many retired personnel are facing serious financial hardship after decades of service, and said the continued presence of the protesters at the National Assembly gate is a visible reminder of the urgency of the issue.
The motion further warned that prolonged uncertainty over pension arrangements could negatively affect the morale of serving officers, with knock-on effects for internal security and law enforcement nationwide.
Lawmakers agreed that creating a dedicated Police Pension Board with a distinct pension framework would bring the police into line with reforms already implemented for other security agencies and help restore confidence among both retired and serving officers.
Adopting the motion, the House resolved that its leadership should immediately engage the Senate to:
- Fast-track concurrence on the Police Pension Board bill; and
- Facilitate its onward transmission to the President for possible assent.
The decision raises expectations among the protesting retirees, who have vowed to remain at the National Assembly until concrete progress is made on their demands for a more secure and dignified retirement.
