The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) Pensions has launched an interactive virtual assistant platform accessible through major social media channels in its bid to bring service closer and cheaper to its subscribers, with a target for full nationwide enrolment within three months.
The acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NPF Pensions, Muhammed Dutse, says the organisation is leveraging digital technology to improve pension service delivery to police officers across Nigeria, with nearly 30,000 personnel already enrolled on its newly launched interactive virtual assistant platform ahead of its official commissioning.
Speaking at the unveiling of the platform in Abuja, Dutse said the initiative was designed to bring pension services closer to officers, many of whom serve in remote and hard-to-reach locations across the country.
He said rising transportation costs and the need for more efficient service delivery informed the decision to deploy digital channels that allow beneficiaries to access information and complete transactions without physically visiting any NPF Pensions office.
“Virtually every nook and cranny of this country has police officers. Delivering services to those locations has been challenging, so we decided to take our services directly to them through digital channels,” he said.
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The platform operates through WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and X, and enables users to access a range of pension services — including checking Retirement Savings Account (RSA) balances, downloading account statements, viewing fund performance, monitoring daily unit prices, and updating certain personal records in line with data protection regulations.
Dutse disclosed that the long-term objective is to enrol all police officers nationwide on the platform within the next two to three months, while continuously improving its functionality based on user feedback. He added that the service is available round the clock, allowing customers to obtain information and complete transactions outside office hours.
Addressing concerns about sustainability and cybersecurity, he said NPF Pensions had put in place a robust security architecture to prevent unauthorised access and had committed adequate resources to ensure uninterrupted operation.
“We have budgeted adequately for the platform and pay our subscriptions in advance to ensure that it remains operational. Security remains a top priority, and we will continue to strengthen the system as we improve it,” he said.
On pension adequacy, Dutse noted that benefits are directly linked to salary levels and contribution rates. He explained that while contribution rates were increased under the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014, concerns remain about the sufficiency of retirement benefits for public servants, including police officers.
He said the National Pension Commission has proposed raising the federal government’s contribution for police personnel from 10 per cent to 20 per cent, while officers would continue contributing 8 per cent — bringing total pension contributions to 28 per cent. He expressed optimism that the proposed increase, alongside ongoing reforms to the PRA, would significantly improve retirement benefits for officers over time.
Dutse also acknowledged that not all officers currently own smartphones or have reliable internet access. To bridge this gap, he said NPF Pensions is developing USSD-based services similar to those used by commercial banks, while maintaining the provision of quarterly RSA statements and information through traditional channels.
Sunday Michael Ogwu is a Nigerian journalist and editor of Pinnacle Daily. He is known for his work in business and economic reporting. He has held editorial roles in prominent Nigerian media outlets, where he has focused on economic policy, financial markets, and developmental issues affecting Nigeria and Africa more broadly.