May 2021

BBC Africa Eye uncovers grand corruption in Nigeria’s pension pot

A new investigation by BBC Africa Eye into pensions in Nigeria has uncovered an unfair and corrupt system which leaves some elderly people sick and penniless, with government workers soliciting extra payments before paying out pensions, people arbitrarily being declared ‘dead’ and having to prove they are alive before their pension is reinstated, and politicians being offered outrageous retirement packages. The five month investigation began when Africa eye was approached by Obaji Akpet – a reporter / producer from Cross...

March 2021

Nigeria. Workers withdrew N1.01bn pension savings in Q4 2020 –PenCom

The Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) witnessed the withdrawal of N1.01 billion by 924 workers from the voluntary contributions in their Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs) with their Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) in the fourth quarter of 2020. Read also Pensions savings can fund Africa eco-plans The National Pension Commission (PenCom), disclosed this in its 2020 fourth quarter report. Read also Chile begins debate on third pension withdrawal amid second wave of the pandemic According to the guidelines on voluntary contribution under the CPS, PenCom...

Nigeria. PenCom Approves N5.33bn as More Contributors Withdraw Pension Funds

Pension Fund Administrators(PFA) are under stress as a result of continuous demands for withdrawals by contributors into the Contributory Pension Scheme. This is as a result of increased job losses due to harsh economic environment. In the last quarter of 2020, the situation compelled the National Pension Commission (PenCom) to approve N5.33 billion to enable PFAs provide succor to 11,796 account holders who found themselves out of jobs. The development was attributed to the impact of the COVID-19. According to PenCom, a total...

January 2021

Nigeria: Old Soldiers At War Over Unpaid 20-Month Pension Arrears

As VP, others disown president of ex-servicemen welfare association A few days ago, the President of military veterans of the Association of Ex-Service Men and Family Welfare, MWO, Anthony Agbas, led some aggrieved members to the Federal Ministry of Finance, Abuja, to protest non-payment of their 20-month pension arrears. The protesters who appealed to the Federal Government to approve the payment of minimum wage arrears accruing to them from 2019 till date, demanded end to all deductions on the...

Nigeria. Pension funds take up investing in Bitcoin

Pension funds have already begun investing in the world’s most popular crypto asset, Bitcoin, according to the biggest crypto hedge fund firm, popularly known as Grayscale. In a recent Bloomberg interview, Grayscale CEO, Sonnenshein, disclosed on the pension industry joining hedge funds and other institutional firms in gaining exposure to Bitcoin through his firm portfolio, better known as Grayscale Bitcoin Trust. We’ve started to see participation not just from the hedge fund segment, which we’ve long seen participation from,...

December 2020

Nigeria. Workers withdrew N2.18bn pension savings in Q3 – PenCom

About 1,286 workers under the Contributory Pension Scheme withdrew N2.18bn from the voluntary contributions in their Retirement Savings Accounts with their Pension Fund Administrators in the third quarter. The National Pension Commission disclosed this in its 2020 third quarter report. “During the quarter under review, the commission granted approval for withdrawal of the sum of N2.18bn from the voluntary contribution accounts of 1,286 contributors,” the report stated. The guidelines on voluntary contribution under the CPS states that the main...

Nigeria: FG inaugurates 16 board members of PENCOM

WorldStage Newsonline– The Federal Government of Nigeria has inaugurated 16 members of National Pension Commission (PENCOM) board, to proffer innovative and feasible solutions to the challenges of the pension administration in Nigeria. Mr Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), at the inauguration on Thursday in Abuja, said members of the board were also urged to ensure the implementation of sustainable pension policies. While congratulating the board members, Mustapha noted that Nigeria, in recent times had some...

Nigeria. The pros and cons of Pension Fund Administrator transfer

After my first article on the best pension fund managers in Nigeria, a few people have commented differently on the article. In response to the comments, I have decided to do another article on the pros and cons of Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) transfer. Here are some of the advantages Better Performance The major reason for any investment is to make gains. Most investment gains are measured with investment performance. When a fund manager performs poorly relative...

November 2020

Nigeria. Retirees protest unpaid pensions

Pensioners in southwestern Nigeria stormed a government building Wednesday, protesting a lack of payments, local media reported. Angry protestors raised placards, in front of the Government Secretariat in the town of Abeere, adjacent to Osogbo, the capital of Osun state, according to local news website The Punch. The report did not elaborate on the reason for the state administration's alleged failure to pay pensions Nigeria, an oil-rich nation that has one of Africa's highest populations, has been suffering...

Nigeria. NSE Fixed Income Market capitalization hits N17 trillion

Despite the impact of the pandemic on businesses and incomes, the market capitalization of fixed income securities appreciated to over N17 trillion as at October 2020. This was revealed by the Divisional Head, Listing Business at the Nigerian Stock Exchange Market, Mr. Olumide Bolumole, in a webinar hosted by the Exchange in collaboration with Oduá Chambers of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday 11 November, 2020. Despite the impact of the pandemic on businesses and incomes, the market capitalization...