Tinubu Orders Free Healthcare for Low-Income Retirees, Police Pension Reform

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate rollout of free healthcare for low-income retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), describing it as a vital step toward ensuring social protection and dignity for Nigeria’s aging population.

The directive was disclosed in a statement released by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, following a high-level briefing at the Presidential Villa with the Director General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Ms. Omolola Oloworaran.

The President also instructed the prompt implementation of long-overdue pension increases and a minimum pension guarantee to provide a safety net for the most vulnerable pensioners.

Addressing another long-standing issue, President Tinubu directed the urgent resolution of the police pension crisis, emphasizing that security personnel who serve the country must be able to retire in peace and with dignity.

The PenCom DG briefed the President on key reforms underway, including efforts to preserve the value of pension fund assets amid inflation and macroeconomic pressures. She also outlined plans to introduce foreign currency contributions, enabling Nigerians in the diaspora to participate in the national pension scheme.

President Tinubu expressed full support for the reforms, reiterating his administration’s commitment to inclusive growth, improved welfare for retirees, and long-term protection for ordinary Nigerians.

The Presidency described the ongoing pension initiatives as “transformative,” and part of a broader strategy to enhance retiree welfare and expand the CPS’s reach across the country.