President TINUBU orders free healthcare for low-income pensioners

Wednesday, August 6, 2025 - President Bola Tinubu has directed the urgent rollout of free healthcare access for low-income retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

The presidency described the move as essential to restoring dignity and ensuring social protection for the country’s most vulnerable senior citizens.

According to a statement on Wednesday, August 6, by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu issued the directive after receiving a detailed briefing from the Director General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Omolola Oloworaran.

The president described the healthcare initiative as a critical component of social protection and dignity in retirement and also ordered the immediate implementation of a long-overdue pension increase.

“He (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 statement read in part.

The latest development came at a time when the country faces increasing concerns about inflation, hardships, and rising living costs, which have significantly affected the quality of life of many retired public servants. 

Several pensioners and experts have repeatedly called for comprehensive reform of the nation’s pension framework, especially for vulnerable groups whose benefits have eroded in value over the years.

The Contributory Pension Scheme was introduced in 2004 through the Pension Reform Act to replace the old defined-benefit system, with hope to ensure the regular and timely payment of retirement benefits. 

However, the scheme has seen notable progress, as many Nigerians have shown displeasure over Nigeria’s pension system, with some describing it as inequitable and unsustainable for thousands of retirees.

In March 2025, Mathew Fashagba, a Business Administration expert and a professor at the Federal University, Lokoja, described Nigeria’s current contributory pension system as failing to meet the requirements to guarantee adequate retirement benefits.

“When an Act is passed but fails to achieve its objectives, it becomes necessary to review it urgently. In the case of Nigeria’s Contributory Pension Scheme, the Act has not successfully provided adequate retirement benefits,” he was quoted to have said.

The presidency stated that during the briefing, PenCom’s DG also informed the president of plans to introduce foreign currency-denominated pension contributions, allowing Nigerians in the diaspora to participate in the system. 

She highlighted ongoing efforts to safeguard the value of pension assets amid inflation and macroeconomic instability.

Following weeks of agitations by the retired police officers, the president also directed PenCom to urgently resolve the long-running issue of police pensions.

The ICIR reported that dozens of retired police officers have, in recent times, protested poor remuneration, demanding better welfare from the Nigerian Police Force.