Strong indications have emerged that the National Pension Commission is considering a major enhancement package that could see retired police officers under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) receive monthly pension equivalent to 100 per cent of their final salary for life.

Although the commission has not officially announced the proposal, a senior source familiar with discussions around the plan told The Nation that the move is part of ongoing efforts to address mounting agitation among serving and retired police personnel over poor pension earnings.

The source who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak publicly on the matter, said the proposed framework also includes gratuity payments equivalent to 200 per cent of annual emoluments for retiring police officers.

According to the source, the Federal Government’s monthly pension contribution for police personnel may also rise from the current 10 per cent to 20 per cent, while employee contribution would remain at eight per cent.

“The idea is to improve the welfare of police retirees significantly without necessarily pulling the police completely out of the Contributory Pension Scheme,” the source said.

If approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the package is expected to improve Retirement Savings Account (RSA) balances, strengthen pension payouts and restore confidence among police personnel who have repeatedly criticised the CPS.

For years, police retirees have sustained pressure on government over what they described as poor pension benefits under the scheme.

Many complained that monthly pensions and lump-sum retirement benefits remained inadequate despite decades of service.

Some retirees claimed they receive between N30,000 and N80,000 monthly after retirement, a development that fuelled repeated protests and calls for the Nigeria Police Force to exit the CPS entirely.

One of the major grievances among police pensioners has been the disparity between the police and other security agencies.

While the military, Department of State Services (DSS) and some intelligence agencies were exempted from the CPS and returned to more favourable pension structures, the police remained under the contributory arrangement.

Industry stakeholders, however, believe government may now be leaning towards strengthening the existing framework instead of dismantling it.

Labour groups and pension advocates have consistently argued that improving the CPS would be more sustainable than returning to the old Defined Benefits Scheme.

They maintained that a strengthened contributory system backed by improved government funding could offer greater transparency and long-term sustainability.

The proposed enhancement is also coming months after President Tinubu secured National Assembly approval for a N758 billion Federal Government bond aimed at clearing pension arrears and outstanding liabilities owed retirees, including police pensioners.

The intervention led to the payment of outstanding pension arrears dating back to 2012 and improvements in monthly pensions for many retirees.

Despite that intervention, agitation within police pension circles has persisted, with many retirees insisting broader reforms are needed to guarantee dignity and financial security after service.

Sources said discussions around the enhancement package are still ongoing and final approval would depend on government’s fiscal considerations and presidential approval.