By Patrick Idowu
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate rollout of a free healthcare initiative for low-income retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), describing it as a vital pillar of social protection and dignity in retirement.
The directive was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to Onanuga, the President gave the order after receiving a detailed briefing from the Director General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Omolola Oloworaran.
Tinubu also called for the swift implementation of long-delayed pension increases and the establishment of a minimum pension guarantee to serve as a safety net for vulnerable retirees under the scheme.
The statement read: “President Tinubu further mandated the PenCom DG to urgently resolve the longstanding police pension issue, stressing that members of the police force who serve and protect the nation deserve to retire with dignity and peace of mind.”
The PenCom DG also briefed the President on ongoing efforts to preserve the value of pension fund assets amid inflation and macroeconomic challenges, including plans to introduce foreign currency contributions to enable Nigerians in the diaspora to participate in the pension scheme.
President Tinubu endorsed the proposed reforms, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to inclusive growth and protection for ordinary Nigerians.
The briefing highlighted several transformative pension initiatives aimed at improving retiree welfare and expanding the scheme’s reach.
