By Atoyebi Nike
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate rollout of free healthcare for low-income retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) as part of a broader effort to protect vulnerable Nigerians in retirement.
According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Tinubu issued the directive following a briefing from the Director-General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Omolola Oloworaran, at the State House on Wednesday.
The President also ordered the implementation of overdue pension increases and the enforcement of a minimum pension guarantee, offering a vital safety net to the most at-risk pensioners.
“These steps reflect our unwavering commitment to inclusive growth and the dignity of every Nigerian retiree,” Tinubu said.
He further directed PenCom to urgently resolve the long-standing police pension issue, emphasizing the importance of ensuring those who served in security roles retire with dignity.
The PenCom DG updated the President on strategies to preserve pension fund value amid inflationary pressures and plans to enable diaspora participation in Nigeria’s pension scheme via foreign currency contributions.
Many of the retirees expected to benefit from the new healthcare policy are former workers from informal sectors or low-grade positions in the public and private sectors. Due to modest contributions during their working years, they often receive insufficient monthly pensions.
With Nigeria’s inflation rate hitting 33.4% in Q2 2025, pensioners on fixed incomes are especially exposed to economic hardship.
The free healthcare program is expected to initially benefit over 500,000 retirees, with further reforms — including pension adjustments and police pension improvements — scheduled for implementation by Q4 2025.
