The Nigeria Pension Fund Assets under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) have accumulated N186 billion in five months. This came to the public through a data obtained from the National Pension Commission (PenCom). It shown that as at May 31, 2021, the pension fund assets stood at N12.5 trillion from N12.306 recorded last year December. In the same fold, the number of Retirement Savings Account (RSA) holders as at the end of May, this year stood at 9.35 million from 9.21 recorded as at the same period of CPS. Contributors, under the scheme stand at 14,000, showing a positive growth. Likewise, the Pension Fund Assets (PFAs) as at May had invested N8.34 trillion in Federal Government’s Securities. A closer look at invested fund showed that out of the N8.34 trillion invested in FGN Securities, FGN Bonds got N7.67 trillion followed by the local money market securities which got N1.65 trillion; and Bank Placements, N1.53 trillion. Further breakdown showed Corporate Debt Securities got N836.34 billion; Treasury Bills got N551.6 billion; Agency Bonds got N14.8 billion; Sukuk N91.4 billion and Green Bonds N13.9 billion. Domestic Ordinary Shares got N821.3 billion, Foreign Ordinary Shares N103.6 billion, State Government Securities N117.4 billion; Foreign money market, N18.69 billion; Infrastructure Funds N66.43 billion; Commercial Papers, N156.69 billion and Cash and other assets N122.79 billion. The Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) was established under the Pension Reform Act of 2004. It mandates a minimum contribution of 10 and eight percent of employees’ monthly emolument by the employer and employee respectively.

PenCom okays N13.21bn for annuity retirees

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has approved a total sum of N13.21bn to fulfil the payment for annuity retirees in the first quarter of 2022.

Data obtained from the commission’s quarterly report on ‘Retiree life annuity’ discloses this.

“The commission granted approval to 3,264 retirees under the retiree life annuity during the quarter under review. A total lump sum of N13.21bn was approved for payment to the retirees, while the sum of N22.69bn was approved for payment to 14 retiree life annuity providers as premium in return for total monthly/quarterly annuities of N231.93m.” It stated.

The Managing Director, Heirs Life Assurance, Niyi Onifade, said annuity plan paid retirees a steady amount, monthly or quarterly as long as the annuitant lived.

This way, he said, the individual was assured of a financially-secured future even during retirement.

Speaking on the company’s annuity plan, he said, “Pensioners have every reason to live life confidently as the annuity plan takes care of the worries of retirement, specifically, the uncertainty of the future. At Heirs Life, we continue to address the specific needs of different audience segments in line with our mission to make insurance accessible to everyone.”

The Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Great Nigeria Insurance Plc, Mrs Cecilia Osipitan, explained that life annuity was a stream of periodic payments that commenced at a specified date, which would either be at the normal retirement age or happen at 50 in the case of early retirement.

She said, “Insurance remains the most reliable bedrock of our existence, and cultivating the culture of insurance can never be over emphasised. There is a need to call for a paradigm shift through effective sensitisation of the insuring public as it is very important to imbibe the culture of getting appropriate insurance cover to protect our assets and lives in case of any eventuality.”


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