By Admin
The Federal Government says it has cleared all pension liabilities owed to retirees under the Nigeria Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme (NUPCPS).
The Director-General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Ms. Omolola Oloworaran, disclosed this at the National Thanksgiving Conference of the NUPCPS held in Abuja on Wednesday.
Speaking at the event, which took place at the auditorium of the National Centre for Women Development in the Central Business District, Abuja, Oloworaran said: “As of today, the government is no longer owing pension liabilities.
DG, National Pension Commission (PenCom), Ms. Omolola Oloworaran
“Since July last year, we have been paying retirees promptly as they exit service. In fact, Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) are now planning to do so within 24 hours.”
She added that deliberate efforts were being made to ensure that senior citizens retire with dignity and peace of mind.
“We must put everything in place to deliver for ordinary Nigerians, particularly our senior citizens, so they can retire in dignity and peace of mind,” she said.
Oloworaran further revealed that under the Pension Reform 2.0 initiative, the Federal Government is introducing measures to improve the welfare of retirees, including access to healthcare and improved earnings in retirement.
She disclosed that plans were underway to introduce a minimum pension guarantee by 2026.
The PenCom boss also assured pensioners currently earning between N10,000 and N30,000 monthly that their situation would soon improve.
NUPCPS National Chairman,Comrade Sylva Nwaiwu reading his address during the occasion.
“Those days will soon be over,” she said, noting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed that the reforms be implemented without delay.
The DG stressed that PenCom was working assiduously to actualise the President’s mandate and establish a sustainable pension floor for senior citizens in the country.
Earlier in his welcome address, the National Chairman of NUPCPS, Comrade Sylva Nwaiwu, commended the Federal Executive Council (FEC), under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for approving N758 billion to clear outstanding pension liabilities dating back to 2007.
He also lauded the council for ensuring the regular remittance of accrued rights by the Federal Government.
“Today, unlike in the past when retirees waited for over a year before receiving their benefits, CPS retirees now receive their entitlements within the same month they retire from service,” he said.
However, Nwaiwu expressed concern over delays in the payment of pension increment arrears and alleged unfair treatment of retirees by some PFAs.
“We call for the intervention of the Federal Government in this matter, or our members who have been denied payment despite funds being released since 2025 will be left with no option but to occupy the premises of the PFAs until they are paid,” he warned.
Our correspondent reports that members of the union from across the states of the federation, alongside key stakeholders in pension administration, attended the event. (ephemeralnews.com.ng)
