Retired federal public servants, represented by the Forum of Retired Federal Directors, have commended the Federal Government and the Director-General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Omolola Bridget Oloworaran, and the management of the Commission for the recent implementation of pension reviews for Federal public service pensioners of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
Whilst lauding the positive action as elating and an alleviation of the hardship of most pensioners, the Forum called for correction of omissions and inaccuracies in the determination of the values credited to pensioners and equitable inclusion of retirees who were not covered.
Representatives of the Forum held a meeting on Wednesday February 25th, 2026 with the representatives of the Director-General of the PenCom in the Commission’s Abuja head office.
Issues raised during the meeting included:
• omission of pension reviews with respect to the 15% upward review effective January 1, 2007 and the 33% upward review effective July 1, 2010 in accordance with Section 173(3) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 15(4) of the Pension Reform Act 2014;
• under-computation of entitlements of pensioners with regard to the 9%-58% pension review effective April 2019 and the 20% & 28% review effective January 2024;
• uncertainty on the continued payment of the pension enhancement of N32,000 per month effective July 2024, which was paid for 17 months so far.
• exclusion of pensioners who have no Accrued Pensions having joined the service after June 2004, from the benefit of the pension reviews;
• issue of restoration of gratuity for public service retirees, which was surreptitiously removed in the Pension Reform Act.
In essence, serious concern was expressed that the recent adjustments to CPS pensioners applied only to the 9% upward review effective April 2019 and the 20% and 28% upward review effective January 2024, and even then, those 2019 and 2024 entitlements were under-computed, while some colleagues were entirely excluded.
The Forum appealed that the under-computations be rectified and the pathetic cases of CPS pensioners who had no accrued pension rights be looked into as a matter of equity and social justice. It also urged PenCom to endeavour to make input into the ongoing amendment of the Pension Reform Act to rectify lacunas and injustices such as the issues of omission of pension review benefits for retirees who joined the service after June 2004 and gratuity for CPS retirees.
It called for timely and effective communication with pensioners through more regular circulars, policy notes, guidelines and media announcements to disseminate information on policies and actions on matters affecting them, in a clear and comprehensive manner and for better understanding and relationship between them and PenCom as the manager and regulator of the pension scheme.
In response, the representative of the Director-General, namely the Director, Contribution and Bond Redemption Department in the Commission, Mr Usman Musa, expressed the Commission’s willingness to attend to the issues and needs of pensioners at all times. He urged pensioners to individually write to the Commission for help or inquiries if they ever felt that there was any problem with the payment of their entitlements. He said that every pensioner’s case was unique and personal and not a general problem applying to everyone.
In the ensuing discussions, both parties welcomed the marked improvement in the response of the government under the current administration by providing funds to pay the arrears of pension reviews as it applied to CPS pensioners, which had lingered for many years.
In response to the question of omission of the payments arising from the 2007 and 2010 reviews, Mr Musa explained that no funds had been received as of the current date for these expected increases. He noted, however, that some pensioners, very few, had benefited from the pension reviews of 2007 and 2010.
The Commission maintained that according to the provisions of the Pension Reform Act 2014, all the retirees, who joined the Federal public service after June 2004 could not benefit from the pension adjustments as they did not have Accrued Rights Rights.
He disclosed that there were ongoing efforts to address the issues raised, stressing that the Commission worked with multiple ministries, departments and agencies of government, including the National Salaries and Wages Commission, in determining the adjustments and payments. He emphasized that the Commission followed the policy circulars and directives of the Salaries & Wages Commission in their workings and computations.
On the question of Gratuity, he advised that the Forum seeks audience with the Head of Civil Service on the matter, recalling the fact that CPS retirees who were in service before July 2004 had already been paid the Gratuity as part of their accrued pension rights, after retirement.
He elaborated at length on the intricacies of Nigeria’s pension system, efforts of various government departments in addressing pension review issues,
the evolution from the defined-benefit scheme, ongoing discussions with the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to address emerging issues in transferring from one annuity programme to another, how pension increases are handled, legal frameworks and the challenges faced, including issues of equity, liabilities and policy amendments, and so on.
The Director also expressed optimism that the N32,000 monthly pension enhancement would continue as long as funds were approved and released for disbursement. He emphasized the importance of fairness and equitable treatment for all retired personnel, considering their life-long service. He mentioned challenges in implementing benefit increases over different administrations and under-budgeting and inadequate fund allocations and added that actual payment of all pension reviews depened on the law and funds availability.
He disclosed that a new health insurance scheme for retirees was under consideration, covering premiums and healthcare.
The lengthy and comprehensive discussion underscored the value of Nigeria’s pension reform, which was aimed at ensuring sustainable liabilities and improved retiree welfare, balancing legal constraints with practical needs.
The delegation of retirees from the Forum of Retired Federal Directors From Core Ministries, Departments and Agencies, included Sir Peter Dama (leader), Alhaji Abdullahi Tumba, Mrs Fatima Jiddun Ahmad, Mr Vitus Okwudili Ajaegbu, Mr Lawrence Ojabo, and Mr Chike N. Ogbechie.
The PenCom team included Messrs Usman Musa, Director Contribution and Bond Redemption Department (leader) and Messrs Abba Ahmed, Murtala M. Modibbo, Ademola Adedokun, Rabiu Kamba and M. Ikeju
Signed
Lawrence Ojabo
For Media and Advocacy Team
March 9,2026
