President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate commencement of free healthcare access for low-income retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), in a move described as part of his administration’s broader commitment to social protection and restoring dignity in retirement.
The President’s directive follows a high-level briefing at the Presidential Villa with the Director-General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Ms. Omolola Oloworaran.
According to a statement issued by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Tinubu emphasized the urgency of implementing long-delayed pension increases and introducing a minimum pension guarantee to protect the most vulnerable pensioners.
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“President Bola Tinubu has directed the expedited rollout of the free healthcare access initiative for low-income retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), describing it as a critical component of social protection and dignity in retirement,” Onanuga stated.
He added that the president also “called for the prompt implementation of long-overdue pension increases and a minimum pension guarantee, which would provide a safety net for the most vulnerable pensioners under the CPS.
“The president further instructed PenCom to urgently address lingering issues surrounding police pensions, highlighting the importance of ensuring that security personnel retire in comfort and dignity.
“President Tinubu further mandated the PenCom DG to urgently resolve the longstanding police pension issue, emphasising that members of the police force who serve and protect the nation deserve to retire with dignity and peace of mind,” the statement read.
The pension reforms come amid growing concerns over the living conditions of retired police officers, many of whom have staged protests in recent months, decrying inadequate benefits and systemic failures in the administration of pensions.
During the meeting, Ms. Oloworaran briefed the President on a series of ongoing and proposed initiatives aimed at strengthening the pension system. These include strategies to shield pension assets from inflationary pressures and plans to allow foreign currency contributions—enabling Nigerians in the diaspora to participate in the pension scheme.
“The DG also briefed the President on ongoing efforts to ensure the value preservation of pension fund assets, especially in the face of inflation and macroeconomic pressures, as well as plans to introduce foreign currency contributions to enable Nigerians in the diaspora to participate in the pension system,” Onanuga noted.
President Tinubu expressed strong support for the proposed reforms and reiterated his administration’s dedication to building a more inclusive and protective economic system for all Nigerians.
“President Tinubu strongly supported the reforms, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to inclusive growth and protection for ordinary Nigerians,” the presidential adviser concluded.
Ms. Oloworaran also outlined a series of transformative initiatives designed to improve the welfare of retirees and extend the coverage of the CPS nationwide.
According to analysts, as Nigeria grapples with economic challenges, the president’s latest actions signal a focused effort to ease the burden on senior citizens and restore public confidence in the pension framework.
, in a move described as part of his administration’s broader commitment to social protection and restoring dignity in retirement.){kind=link}