The Federal Government has stepped up efforts to ensure compliance in its ongoing nationwide pension verification exercise, warning civil servants that failure to participate could affect their access to retirement benefits.
The exercise, being coordinated by the National Pension Commission, targets treasury-funded workers employed before June 30, 2004, many of whom are yet to complete their enrolment despite repeated reminders.
Officials say the online verification and enrolment process is essential for accurately capturing workers’ data and ensuring timely payment of accrued pension rights under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
According to a senior PenCom official, the goal is straightforward: to ensure every eligible worker’s records are properly documented to avoid delays or disputes when they retire.
The exercise, which began on February 2, 2026, is expected to end on July 31, 2026, leaving only a few months for affected workers to comply.
It forms part of broader reforms aimed at settling pension liabilities inherited from the old Defined Benefit Scheme, which was replaced in 2004 under the Pension Reform Act 2014.
To support this, the government established the Retirement Benefits Bond Redemption Fund, managed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, to cover outstanding obligations to retired and retiring workers.
In a circular issued on April 27, 2026, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, directed ministries and agencies to fully support the process, stressing that accurate data is necessary for proper budget planning.
She noted that without complete verification, the government would continue to face difficulties in determining its true pension liabilities.
A major improvement in the current exercise is its shift to a fully digital system, replacing earlier manual processes that were often slow and prone to errors.
PenCom has introduced the Contributions and Bond Redemption Application (COBRA), a platform designed to handle biometric verification, real-time data capture, and validation of employment records.
To ensure order, the exercise is being conducted in phases, starting with workers nearing retirement and now extending to those due to retire from 2030 onwards.
Despite these efforts, participation has been lower than expected, raising concerns among government officials and labour stakeholders.
Ministries, Departments and Agencies have now been directed to upload staff data onto the platform, while employees are required to complete their enrolment through their Pension Fund Administrators.
Pension desk officers have also been deployed across MDAs to assist workers and improve compliance levels.
PenCom has assured workers that those who complete the process will enjoy smoother access to their pension benefits upon retirement.
However, it warned that failure to comply could result in delays or complications in processing entitlements in the future.
With the July deadline approaching, authorities are urging stronger awareness campaigns and faster enrolment across all affected institutions.
