A bill to amend the Pension Reform Act 2014 and exempt the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) has passed second reading.

Sponsored by Francis Waive (APC-Delta), the bill was read for the second time on the floor of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, in Abuja.

Leading the debate, Mr Waive said the bill sought to amend Section 5, sub-section 1 paragraph (a) of the Pension Reform Act of 2014.

According to him, this will include the police as part of the categories of persons exempted from the CPS, which presently include members of the Armed Forces, the intelligence and secret services.

The lawmaker said the police was brought under the current pension scheme by former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.

He said Mr Obasanjo modelled Nigeria’s CPS after the Chilean ‘Chilere’ pension scheme, which exempted both the armed forces and the police from the scheme.

Mr Waive said, “unfortunately, in adopting the same model, he brought the police under the Nigerian Contributory Pension scheme, while exempting the military and other intelligence agencies.

He said the Nigeria Police Pensions Limited emanated from a presidential approval that was aimed at enhancing the welfare of serving and retired police officers.

“Consequent upon the approval, the National Pension Commission (PENCOM), was in 2012 directed to guide the Police towards the establishment of a Nigeria Police Pension Fund Administrator.”

According to him, this was in order to remain within the CPS and to address all other areas of concern on welfare and pension matters.

He, however, said that operating under the current pension scheme had been unpalatable and regrettable for police retirees.

“For example, the highest retirement benefit of a Deputy Superintendent of Police under this obnoxious pension scheme is N2.5 million.

“That of Assistant Superintendent of Police is N1.5 million, while their equivalent in Army (captain) and DSS are paid N12.8 million and N10.3 million respectively,” he said.