President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved sweeping reforms aimed at boosting the welfare of Nigerian pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), with a ₦32,000 monthly pension increment, harmonisation of pension rates, and automatic inclusion in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) announced the development on Friday, revealing that the reforms followed a formal request by its Executive Secretary, Tolulope Odunaiya, for an emergency budgetary intervention to support pensioners across multiple sectors.
Highlights of the new pension reforms include:
₦32,000 flat increase for all DBS pensioners.
Additional increments of 10.66% and 12.95% for retirees of defunct and privatised agencies.
Harmonisation of pension rates across all DBS pensioners.
Inclusion of pensioners in NHIS to ensure healthcare coverage.
Settlement of outstanding liabilities owed to ex-NITEL/MTEL staff and other treasury-funded parastatal retirees.
Additional allocation in the 2026 budget for full implementation of the reforms.
Odunaiya described the move as “a clear reflection of the Renewed Hope Agenda’s commitment to senior citizens,” adding that the reforms will “usher in a new era of far-reaching welfare benefits for DBS pensioners.”
PTAD assured retirees that the implementation will be phased, transparent, and executed in collaboration with the Budget Office, Ministry of Finance, and other relevant government agencies.
The reforms are expected to significantly improve the standard of living for tens of thousands of retired civil servants under the legacy Defined Benefit Scheme, marking one of the most comprehensive welfare overhauls for pensioners in recent years.
