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. He 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.

In a statement signed by Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu gave the directives after receiving a briefing from the Director General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Ms. Omolola Oloworaran. Onanuga said the President strongly supported the reforms, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to inclusive growth and protection for ordinary Nigerians.

President Tinubu further mandated the PenCom DG to urgently resolve the longstanding police pension issue, emphasizing that members of the police force who serve and protect the nation deserve to retire with dignity and peace of mind. “Those who serve and protect our nation deserve to retire with dignity and peace of mind,” he said.

During the briefing, Omolola Oloworaran updated the President on a suite of transformative pension initiatives to enhance retiree welfare and expand the Pension Scheme’s reach. She 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 that the President expressed full support for the reform agenda. Bayo Onanuga also stated that Omolola Oloworaran briefed the President on several key initiatives.