The recovered funds, obtained from employers in the electricity sector who failed to remit pension deductions, have been fully credited into the respective Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs) of affected employees in line with the provisions of the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014.

The recovery was achieved through a joint enforcement initiative by ICPC and PenCom aimed at tackling pension contribution defaults and ensuring employers comply with their statutory obligations under the Contributory Pension Scheme.

According to PenCom, the successful recovery highlights the effectiveness of its partnership with the anti-corruption agency in enforcing compliance with the Pension Reform Act and safeguarding workers’ retirement benefits.

To strengthen collaboration, PenCom and ICPC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in October 2025, establishing a framework for the recovery of outstanding pension contributions, investigation of pension-related infractions, and enforcement of compliance with the Pension Reform Act 2014.

PenCom disclosed that ICPC is currently investigating several other private sector employers referred by the Commission for non-compliance with the pension law, noting that additional recoveries are expected as the investigations progress.

Under the Pension Reform Act 2014, employers are required to deduct and remit pension contributions into employees’ Retirement Savings Accounts within seven working days after the payment of salaries. Failure to comply constitutes a violation of the law and attracts sanctions, including the recovery of outstanding contributions, penalties, and, where necessary, prosecution.

The Commission urged all employers, particularly those in the private sector, to regularise outstanding pension remittances and ensure full compliance with the provisions of the Act to avoid regulatory and enforcement actions.

PenCom reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the retirement savings of Nigerian workers, promoting compliance with the Contributory Pension Scheme, and ensuring that pension contributions deducted from employees are promptly remitted into their Retirement Savings Accounts.

The post ICPC, PenCom Recover ₦3bn Pension Arrears from Defaulting Employers appeared first on Business Today NG.

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) is conducting a one-time nationwide online verification and enrollment exercise for all active employees of treasury-funded Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) who were employed before June 30, 2004.

The exercise, which began on February 2, 2026, and is scheduled to end on July 31, 2026, is designed to capture accurate and complete data on eligible workers. This is expected to support the timely payment of their accrued pension rights under the Contributory Pension Scheme.

The initiative forms part of the Federal Government’s broader effort to address pension obligations carried over from the old Defined Benefit Scheme, which was replaced by the Contributory Pension Scheme in 2004.

Under Section 15(1) of the Pension Reform Act 2014, employees who transitioned to the new scheme are entitled to accrued pension rights representing benefits earned under the previous system. To fund these liabilities, the law provides for a Retirement Benefits Bond Redemption Fund domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria.

In a circular dated April 27, 2026, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, directed all treasury-funded MDAs to support the exercise. The directive stressed that verification is critical for determining the Federal Government’s outstanding pension liabilities and making appropriate budgetary provisions.

PenCom said the current exercise reflects a shift from earlier manual processes that were often hindered by incomplete records and delays. The commission has deployed a digital platform known as the Contributions and Bond Redemption Application (COBRA), designed to enable real-time data capture, validation and processing.

The platform incorporates multiple layers of verification, including biometric capture and cross-checking of employment records, aimed at improving data accuracy and reducing errors that could delay pension payments.

To ensure efficiency, the exercise is being implemented in phases. The first phase, which ran from February 2 to March 31, 2026, covered employees expected to retire between January 2027 and December 2029.

The second phase, currently underway from April 1 to July 31, 2026, targets employees scheduled to retire from January 2030 onwards.

PenCom said the phased approach is intended to enhance coordination, improve monitoring and ensure all eligible employees are captured within the timeline.

However, participation has remained below expectations, prompting a directive mandating full compliance by all treasury-funded MDAs.

Under the directive, MDAs are required to upload details of eligible employees on the COBRA platform, after which affected staff are to visit their respective Pension Fund Administrators with the necessary documents to complete the process.

Pension Desk Officers trained by PenCom have been assigned to coordinate the exercise within their organisations and guide employees through the process.

PenCom assured workers that participation would enable the proper computation of their accrued pension rights and help the Federal Government make adequate provisions for payment, ensuring seamless access to benefits upon retirement.

With the July 31 deadline approaching, the Federal Government has urged Permanent Secretaries and heads of MDAs to publicise the directive widely and ensure full participation.

Officials warned that failure to participate could complicate the processing of accrued pension rights and lead to delays in accessing retirement benefits.

The post PenCom Deploys Digital Platform to Boost Pension Verification Exercise appeared first on Business Today NG.