February 2019

Nigeria. N8.4trn Pension investment to promote industry – PENCOM

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has clarified that pension funds are not lent out but invested in FGN Bonds, Treasury Bills and other financial instruments yielding profit over time.The funds which stood as at N8, 499,891.97 trillion as at November 2018 have depleted through borrowing to corporate entities, states among others.A document exclusively obtained from PenCom by Blueprint showed the FGN Bonds gulped N4, 439,561.29 trillion, representing 52.23 per cent of the total amount, while investments in Treasury Bills amounted to...

January 2019

PenCom Grants Licence To Nigerian University Pension Management Company (NUPEMCO)

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) yesterday approved the issuance of a license to Nigerian University Pension Management Company Limited (NUPEMCO) to carry out the business of a Pension Fund Administrator (PFA). The Commission in a statement made available to DAILY INDEPENDENT by Peter Aghahowa, Head Corporate Communication, said: “This approval is consequent upon a detailed evaluation of NUPEMCO’s compliance with the requirements, terms, and conditions stipulated by the Commission. Read more @Independent

Nigeria. 7 million aged people beg FG to create Ageing and Elderly Commission

No fewer than seven million aged people in the country have appealed to the Federal Government to establish a commission for Ageing and Elderly Persons with a view to addressing their current plights and sufferings. The ageing Nigerians said the creation of the Elderly couple in happy mood. commission would provide an environment which will encourage and promote active living for all aged groups, thus fostering social capital and a sense of community living. They also called on...

Nigeria. FG Reaches Agreement With ASUU Over Industrial Action, Pension

The federal government, has reached an agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, at the end of a meeting with union leaders in Abuja. Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, who presided over the meeting, said the government has met most of the union’s demands, including the release of fifteen and a half billion naira for payment of salary shortfalls. The minister also said ASUU has fulfilled all righteousness on the issue of pensions.  He said all...

December 2018

Nigeria. Pension: PenCom Adopts Risk-based Supervision To Promote Risk Mgt

The National Pension Commission (NAICOM) has adopted a risk-based supervision approach to promote better risk management in pension sector of the nation’s economy. Acting director-general, PenCom, Mrs. Aisha Dahiru-Umar, who stated this at the Compliance Officers Forum held in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State recently, disclosed that the commission moved to a more risk based approach to supervising pension operators by aligning its supervisory framework with that of the Financial Services Regulation Coordinating Committee (FSRCC). Stating that risk management is essential to the...

Nigeria: Military alerts public on scam on retirees

Nigeria’s Military Pension Board (MPB) has alerted retirees and families of deceased personnel of the circulation of “fake and malicious” messages by impostors to defraud them of their hard earned income.The Public Relations Officer, Flt.-Lt. Obasi Okoroafor, said the board has advised them to promptly report such fraudsters to the nearest military unit. Okoroafor said the MPB was dismayed by the circulation of the fraudulent messages by mischievous elements claiming to be its agents. “The dubious messages request for money from...

November 2018

Nigeria. Understanding the Contributory Pension Scheme

The Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, which commenced in July 2004, seeks to, amongst others, ensure that every worker receives his retirement benets asand when due. Hence, pension contributions is the total contributions of both employer and employee from July, 2004 to the month of retirement based on applicable grade level/step, salary structure and income earned on the contributions. Features of the CPS Contributory in nature: The CPS is contributory in nature. This means that the employer will contribute 10 percent, while...

October 2018

Nigeria. Government Meets Labour Over Wage Saga As Pensioners Threaten Protest

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has met with organised labour over the minimum wage imbroglio. The Guardian learnt yesterday in Abuja that the meeting with the president of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Bobboi Kaigama, was to avert the October 30 rally and November 6 nationwide strike by the unions. It was also learnt that the scribe demanded a full account of what transpired during earlier negotiations...

Nigerian pensioners issue ultimatum on pension arrears

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) have issued a 21-day ultimatum to the government to pay the arrears of pensions owed them and also increase the minimum being paid, in line with the impending review of minimum wage.Mr. Abel Afolayan, the national president of the NUP, who made the demands at a news conference in Abuja, said that the union has served the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD the notice in compliance with the extant labour laws. He said that...

Nigeria. Pension fund infrastructure investments rose by 600% in 20 months – Dahir-Umar

Hajia Aisha Dahir-Umar is the acting Director General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom). In this exclusive interview with Daily Trust, she says infrastructure investments through pension funds have grown by over 600 per cent, from N2.23 billion in January, 2017, to N16.07 billion as at August 31, 2018. What has been your experience running PenCom since assumed office as its acting Director General? Since assumption of duty as acting director general in April, 2017, we have remained focused on the...