Tinubu Approves ₦32,000 Pension Increase, Reforms for DBS Pensioners

By Oluwakemi Kindness

Pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) are set for a significant boost in their monthly earnings as President Bola Tinubu has approved a ₦32,000 pension increase alongside a package of far-reaching welfare reforms.

The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) announced the development describing it as a landmark step in protecting the welfare of Nigeria’s senior citizens.

According to PTAD, the ₦32,000 increment will apply to DBS pensioners across the board, while pensioners of defunct and privatized agencies will also benefit from additional percentage increases of 10.66% and 12.95% respectively.

The reforms further include the harmonization of pensions for all DBS pensioners starting from the 2026 Pension Budget, enrolment of pensioners into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) from 2026, and the settlement of inherited unfunded pension liabilities.

This includes outstanding arrears owed to pensioners of NITEL/MTEL and other treasury-funded parastatals.

PTAD Executive Secretary, Tolulope Odunaiya, in a statement on Friday by the Directorate’s Head, Corporate Communications, Olugbenga Ajayi, explaines that the reforms followed a formal submission to the Presidency requesting emergency budgetary support to implement long-overdue changes in the DBS pension system.

She hails the approvals as *“a turning point in DBS pension administration,”* noting that they reflect the Renewed Hope Agenda’s focus on equity, social justice, and the dignity of retirees.

“These reforms not only address immediate welfare concerns but also lay the foundation for a sustainable pension structure that honours the service of our senior citizens,” she said in a statement issued by PTAD’s Head of Corporate Communications, Olugbenga Ajayi.

Odunaiya adds that implementation will be phased and carried out in close collaboration with relevant government agencies to ensure a smooth rollout.

PTAD reaffirmes its unwavering commitment to improving the welfare of DBS pensioners and assured beneficiaries that the reforms will be delivered in full.