Akpabio Moves to End Police Inclusion in Contributory Pension Scheme

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has moved to end the inclusion of retired police officers in the controversial Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). The promise followed a protest by former police officers who had gathered at the gate of the National Assembly, demanding that the police be removed from the scheme. During a meeting with their leadership, Akpabio said the Senate would quickly ratify the earlier approval by the House of Representatives and produce a law to formally exempt them.

He criticized the CPS policy, calling it poorly conceived and unsuitable for security personnel. Akpabio argued that since other security agencies such as the military, Department of State Services (DSS) and National Intelligence Agency (NIA) were already exempted, the police should not be treated differently. He also urged the protesting retirees to disperse, assuring them that their exit from CPS will be legally secured “next week”.

The retirees, many of whom had accused the CPS of causing hardship and neglect, described the development as a long-overdue victory. Their agitation underscores growing concern over inadequate pension benefits for retired officers under the contributory system.