By Nana Musa
The Director-General (D-G) of National Pension Commission (PenCom), Ms Omolola Oloworaran, has urged Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to champion pension awareness and inclusion in the country.
Oloworaran made the call during the 2025 PenCom conference for CSOs in Abuja on Tuesday.
The D-G, who was represented by PenCom’s Director, Contribution and Bond Redemption, Mr Usman Musa, said that the CSOs played a great role in the Pension Revolution 2.0.
“Your role in this journey is indispensable. You are trusted voices in communities; you understand informal work realities; you advocate for inclusion, fairness and accountability.
“We see CSOs as partners in awareness creation, advocates for pension inclusion among vulnerable groups, and watchdogs that strengthen trust and transparency.
“Together, we must help Nigerians understand that pension is not a tax, not a donation. And it not a privilege but a right and a tool for dignity in old age,” she said.
Oloworaran said that as Nigeria moved into the next phase of pension revolution the focus remained to expand coverage, deepen trust, improve investment outcomes, strengthen supervision, and protect retirees.
She said that the pension revolution was no longer a promise, but an irreversible process in motion.
The D-G said that the commission had a clear mandate to rebuild trust, expand coverage, strengthen governance and reposition the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) for the future.
She said that the mandate continued to guide every decision and spur the resolve to conduct bold reforms that had a clear and measurable impact.
“We formally launched Pension Revolution 2.0, the most comprehensive reform agenda in the pension industry since 2004.
“One of the most historic milestones of the year is the presidential approval and disbursement of N758 billion to settle outstanding pension liabilities.
“This unprecedented intervention sent a clear and powerful message: Nigeria honours its promises to its workers and retirees,” she said.
She said that PenCom had cleared long-standing pension increase backlogs for Federal Government treasury-funded retirees, some dating back to 2007.
“What many believed will never be paid has now been paid.
“In addition, zero waiting time for the payment of accrued pension rights was restored with effect from July. Retirees now receive their benefits when due not months or years later.
“To further enhance benefit adequacy, we introduced Pension Boost 1.0, which has already added N2.68 billion to monthly pension payments for CPS retirees. These are not just numbers,” the D-G said.
She said that the commission had achieved full automation of critical pension processes, including the Pension Clearance Certificate system, benefit processing, and contribution remittance platforms.
“We inaugurated the Board of Trustees of the PenCare Initiative, an industry-wide intervention to provide free and accessible healthcare for low-income retirees, retirement should be a season of peace, not anxiety over medical bills.
“We also established the pension industry leadership council, a strategic platform to deepen collaboration, reinforce accountability, and drive innovation across the industry.
“We raised capital requirements for pension operators by no means a punitive measure, but a forward-thinking policy. Stronger capital means stronger institutions, better risk management, and higher professional standards,” she said said.
The D-G said that the most defining reform of the past year was the restructuring and rebranding of the Micro Pension Plan into the Personal Pension Plan (PPP).
She said that the reform was about meeting Nigerians where they are.
According to her, artisans, traders, gig workers, creatives, farmers, transport workers, and millions in the informal economy who work hard but face uncertainty in old age.
She said that the PPP provided a simple, flexible and inclusive framework for self-employed persons and professionals, informal sector workers, and formal sector employees who wish to make additional voluntary contributions.
“One of the significant changes under the PPP is the introduction of Accredited Pension Agents (APAs).
“These agents are to market and onboard participants on behalf of PFAs that engage them.
“The APAs are not merely distribution channels, they are also an employment strategy.
“It is expected that thousands of young Nigerians will be trained, certified and deployed as pension professionals earning livelihoods while expanding pension coverage, especially in rural and underserved communities,” she said.
She described it as financial inclusion with impact.
Oloworaran said that participation in the PPP was deliberately made easy and accessible.
She said that any Nigerian aged 18 years and above could participate using mainly their National Identification Number (NIN), a valid phone number, and a bank account.
The D-G also commended President Bola Tinubu for the confidence reposed in her to serve Nigeria’s pensioners and contributors.
The Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, PenCom, Mr Ibrahim Buwei, said that the commission had achieved a lot in a short time.
Bumei said that the commission recognised the CSOs as a powerful group in the society, and urged them to continue with the good work in regards to the CPS.
The Chairman of the Contributory Pension and Happy Retirement Advocacy (COPEHRA), Mr Sani Mustapha, commended the D-G and her team for all their reforms.
He also advised that CSOs should be represented in all levels of the pension sector.
“The CSO is a sector that operates within the context of voluntary associations and intermediary bodies to hold public and private institutions to accountability and transparency,” Mustapha said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)