BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Lagos State Council, has declared a full-scale crackdown on defaulting government agencies and private businesses failing to remit their workers’ pension contributions.
The union warned that there will be “no hiding place” for non-compliant employers, threatening both legal prosecution and public shaming for those violating the Pension Reform Act.
The announcement was made by Comrade Funmi Sessi, Chairman of the NLC Lagos State Council, during a press conference in Lagos. The briefing followed an interactive session on the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) organized by the National Pension Commission (PenCom) for NLC executives.
Sessi revealed that the union has seen an alarming surge in complaints from frustrated workers across both the public and private sectors. In response, the NLC is deploying immediate monitoring and enforcement teams across Lagos State, working in direct partnership with PenCom and other key stakeholders.
“It is unacceptable that despite monthly deductions from workers’ salaries under the Contributory Pension Scheme, many employers have deliberately failed to remit these funds to the appropriate Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs),” Sessi stated. “This jeopardizes the future and retirement security of hardworking Nigerian “An Act of Economic Injustice”
The Lagos NLC strongly condemned the withholding of funds, categorizing it as a gross violation of national labor laws, a breach of employee trust, and an act of economic injustice against citizens who have faithfully served their employers.
The council emphasized several core realities facing the workforce today:
A Right, Not a Favor: The NLC re-established that a pension is a fundamental right of every worker, ensuring they can retire with dignity after years of driving the national economy.
Threat to Workplace Peace: Employers were urged to fulfill their obligations immediately to safeguard industrial harmony, social justice, and overall national development.
Zero Tolerance for Exploitation: The union stated it will no longer fold its arms while workers are left to face severe financial uncertainty after retirement.
The NLC issued a final warning to all defaulting organizations to clear their backlogs or face severe consequences.
“Any recalcitrant employer of labor will be taken to the court of public opinion in Nigeria, and legal actions will also be taken against them,” Sessi warned, signaling that the union is fully prepared to name, shame, and prosecute any entity undercutting its workforce.
