Between Faith and Justice: Pre-2026 CPS Pensioners Await Inclusion in Gratuity Reform

By Dada Ahmed, Editor, The Reporters.

For thousands of retirees under Nigeria’s Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) who left service before 2026, the promise of a more secure retirement remains incomplete, despite recent reforms introducing gratuity payments for new retirees.

While the Federal Government’s new gratuity framework, effective January 1, 2026, has been welcomed as a significant step toward improving pensioners’ welfare, its exclusion of pre-2026 retirees has stirred concern, quiet agitation, and a growing wave of spiritual reflection among those affected.

Across pensioners’ platforms in Lokoja, Ilorin, Abuja,Lagos, Kano,and other parts of the country, discussions about policy gaps are increasingly interwoven with expressions of faith and hope.

One such expression came from Prophet Segun Aiyemiko, a member of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme (NUPCPS), who captured the mood of many when he wrote:
“The Almighty God will represent all of us, and our EXCOs should be there to witness God’s work.”

The message, shared in response to discussions on the new gratuity policy, reflects more than religious sentiment,it underscores a deep yearning for fairness, inclusion, and recognition after years of perceived neglect.

For many pre-2026 CPS retirees, faith has become both a refuge and a rallying point. Having contributed to the scheme during their active years, they now find themselves excluded from a benefit designed to ease the financial burden of retirement.

Their prayers, often shared in online forums and physical gatherings, echo a common conviction, that beyond bureaucratic processes lies the possibility of justice shaped by both policy decisions and moral responsibility.

“Faith strengthens our pursuit of fairness,” said Alhaji Yahaya Mohammed, a pensioner based in Ilorin, Kwara State, reflecting a sentiment widely shared among retirees.

In Lokoja and beyond, informal prayer meetings and support groups have become spaces for encouragement, where retirees share experiences of endurance and reinforce their collective hope for inclusion.

The timing of this renewed spiritual engagement coincides with the Federal Government’s introduction of the gratuity framework, a policy shift aimed at enhancing retirement benefits under the CPS.

Under the new arrangement, eligible retirees as from January 1,2026,are entitled to gratuity in addition to their regular pension payments.

The initiative is designed to provide immediate financial support at retirement, enabling beneficiaries to address pressing needs such as healthcare, housing, and family responsibilities.

Policy analysts view the reform as a step towards aligning the CPS with long-standing expectations, especially when compared with the older Defined Benefit Scheme, which provides gratuity as a standard component of retirement benefits.

However, the exclusion of those who retired before 2026 has raised critical questions about equity within the system.

Many CPS pensioners argue that, having contributed under similar conditions, pre-2026 retirees deserve to benefit from the same policy. For them, the issue is not merely financial but one of fairness and dignity.

This concern has given rise to a dual approach,advocacy and faith.

While NUPCPS pensioners continue to engage policymakers, stakeholders, and relevant authorities through formal channels, they also draw strength from their shared belief that their cause is just and deserving of attention.

The recurring theme in their conversations is clear: faith does not replace action; it reinforces it.

Across Nigeria, CPS pensioners are increasingly framing their demands within broader moral and ethical considerations, emphasizing compassion, justice, and national responsibility.

Their narratives go beyond monetary entitlements to address a deeper issue,the dignity of life after service.

Experts in pension administration note that extending gratuity benefits to pre-2026 retirees could help correct systemic imbalances and prevent the emergence of a new layer of inequality within the CPS.

With rising inflation and increasing cost of living, many CPS retirees face mounting financial pressures, compounded by years without access to gratuity support.

“Inclusion is not just policy; it is justice in action,” said Mr. Anthony Iyiola, a Lagos-based CPS pensioner, who expressed optimism that the government would consider extending the benefit to him and his colleagues.

According to him, such a move would not only provide relief to affected retirees but also strengthen public confidence in the pension system, reassuring current workers that their contributions are secure and meaningful.

Indeed, the debate over gratuity for pre-2026 retirees highlights a broader truth about governance,that effective policy must balance technical efficiency with human empathy.

As Nigeria continues to refine its pension system, the voices of those who feel left behind remain both relevant and compelling.

For these pensioners, their prayers are more than expressions of faith; they are calls for recognition, fairness, and inclusion.

Ultimately, addressing their concerns would go beyond policy adjustment,it would affirm the value of service, uphold the dignity of retirement, and reinforce trust in the nation’s social protection framework.

Ahmed, a CPS retiree, pension advocate,publishes The Reporters.