Workers of the National Assembly Service Commission have called for their reinstatement into the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), two years after being excluded by legislation.
The demand was presented on Tuesday during a stakeholder engagement on the review of the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014, organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Pensions in Abuja.
In a memorandum submitted to the Committee, the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr Kamoru Ogunlana, revealed that the Service is now seeking a return to the CPS. He explained that the management had reviewed its earlier stance, despite the establishment of a separate pension board.
The National Assembly Service Pensions Board (Establishment) Act, signed in April 2023 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, had created an independent pension board for Assembly staff, effectively exempting them from the provisions of the PRA 2014. However, implementation of the law is yet to commence.
Chairman of the House Committee on Pensions, Mr Hussaini Jalo, while declaring the session open, said the PRA review was necessary to address emerging concerns and reflect present realities. He urged stakeholders to identify specific areas in need of amendment.
The session was attended by representatives from the National Pension Commission (PenCom), the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp), the Military Pensions Board, and the Nigeria Police Force, among others.
In its submission, PenCom expressed support for the proposed review and recommended the adoption of resolutions from previous consultations held in 2022. The Commission also advocated amendments to Section 7(1) and (2) of the PRA to enhance retirement benefits and lump sum payments.
PenCom pledged to collaborate with the House and Senate Committees to ensure a smooth and comprehensive amendment process.
Also speaking, Committee member Mr Oluwole Oke cautioned against hasty amendments and emphasised the need to strengthen PenCom’s regulatory capacity. He reassured stakeholders of the National Assembly’s commitment to safeguarding the welfare of Nigerian workers.
PTAD, in its presentation, requested formal recognition as a legal corporate entity under the revised law. Its Executive Secretary, Ms Tolulope Odunaiya, stated that such recognition would boost the Directorate’s operational efficiency.
The Chief Executive Officer of PenOp, Mr Oguche Agudah, noted that the PRA was long overdue for revision. He stressed that the review would promote sustainability, ensure regulatory independence, and expand coverage, pointing out that only six states had fully complied with CPS provisions.
Agudah also called for all pension remittances to be channelled through authorised platforms to ensure greater transparency and accountability within the sector.
