The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has strengthened its collaboration with the judiciary to advance pension reforms and improve retirement benefits administration across Nigeria.
At a sensitisation workshop on the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) for judges of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Abuja, PenCom Director-General Omolola Oloworaran, represented by Mr. Bello Malabu, said the meeting aimed to clarify grey areas and strengthen trust between both sectors.
She explained that while the scheme had made steady progress in the last two decades, issues such as delayed remittances and transition gaps for judicial officers still need urgent attention.
Oloworaran noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s intervention has ensured the timely payment of benefits to Treasury-funded government agencies. She added that PenCom was already in talks with the National Judicial Council (NJC) to resolve pending issues affecting judges who transitioned into the CPS before their elevation.
She assured that the Commission would handle all outstanding cases with fairness and transparency.
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The PenCom DG also introduced the Personal Pension Plan (PPP) a flexible, voluntary pension product for professionals, self-employed individuals, and those in non-traditional employment.
“The PPP complements the mandatory CPS and offers participants greater flexibility and inclusion,” she said. “We encourage judges and senior public officials to take advantage of this scheme to enhance their financial security after retirement.”
Oloworaran also unveiled the first volume of the Pension Law Report, a compilation of landmark judgments on pension matters, and commended NICN President Justice Benedict Kanyip for supporting the initiative.
Justice Kanyip Seeks Reform of Political Pensions
Justice Benedict Kanyip urged the Federal Government to review political pensions and severance packages, calling them unfair and inconsistent with social justice.
“It is not morally right to pay political office holders lifetime pensions after serving only a few years,” he said.
He added that PenCom must strengthen compliance, penalise defaulting employers, and use technology to boost efficiency and transparency.
Currently, only 10% of Nigerian workers are covered by formal pension schemes a figure he described as unacceptable.
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Mr. Godson Ukpevo, President of the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp) and MD of Veritas Glanvills Pensions Ltd, praised the CPS as one of Nigeria’s most successful policy reforms.
He said it has restored confidence in retirement planning, created millions of contributors, and grown pension assets to over ₦25 trillion.
Ukpevo added that stronger judicial engagement would deepen pension law interpretation, ensuring the system remains transparent and sustainable for future generations.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
