2 Years After Exemption, NASS Workers Seek Return To Contributory Pension

Staffers of National Assembly Service Commission are seeking to return to the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) barely two years after a Bill, which was concluded at the twilight of the Buhari Administration, exempted them from the Scheme.

The National Assembly Service Pensions Board (Establishment) Act, enacted in April 2023, created a separate pension board for NASS personnel, effectively removing them from the CPS under the Pension Reform Act (PRA) of 2014. However, while implementation of the NASS Pension Board Act was yet to commence, recent developments suggest a shift in perspective amongst the Assembly’s management and staff.

The disclosure was made by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, during a stakeholder engagement session on the review of the PRA 2014 organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Pensions in Abuja. Represented by an Official of the Assembly, Ogunlana announced the Service’s interest in rejoining the CPS in a memorandum submitted to the Committee.

While declaring open the engagement, Chairman of the House Committee on Pensions, Hussaini Jalo stated the need to amend the PRA, which was last reviewed in 2014. He urged stakeholders to outline potential review areas for the Committee’s consideration.

The engagement brought together key stakeholders including PenCom, the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria, the Military Pensions Board, and the Nigerian Police Force, among others.

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The session was part of a consultative process to inform a proposed amendment to the PRA 2014. The Committee affirmed its commitment to fast-track the review process to align the legislation with current realities and stakeholder expectations.

In a memorandum submitted during the session, the National Pension Commission (PenCom) acknowledged the need to review the PRA 2014, noting that such a review had commenced earlier. PenCom recommended revisiting the resolutions reached during stakeholder consultations in 2022 to validate earlier positions and address emerging concerns.

PenCom also expressed support for proposed amendments aimed at improving lump sum payouts for retirees, in response to widespread calls from stakeholders. In this regard, the Commission supported a holistic review of Section 7(1) and (2) of the Pension Reform Act 2014 to address issues around retirement benefits and ensure a more equitable framework for retirees.

PenCom further pledged to collaborate with both the Committee as well as the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service to ensure a seamless and comprehensive review process.

A member of the House Committee on Pensions, Hon. Oluwole Oke, advocated caution with the proposed amendments to the PRA 2014.

Hon. Oke underscored the need to strengthen PenCom’s regulatory capacity while emphasising on the National Assembly’s support in advancing reforms that will guarantee a dignified and secure retirement for every Nigerian worker.

Meanwhile, the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) called for its recognition as a legal corporate entity in the proposed amendments. PTAD’s executive secretary, Tolulope Odunaiya, stated this in the Directorate’s submission at the public engagement.

Also in his contributions on why PRA  should be amended, the chief executive officer of the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp) Oguche Agudah noted that the Act is over ten years now and due for a review due to critical developments in the pension sector

In his presentation he noted that “The review is for sustainability and economic development so that the pension sector operators can continue investing and also to ensure the independence of regulator which is the National Pension Commission,”

Agudah added that the review is targeted as “Ensuring nationwide coverage and growth. as only six states have total coverage,”

The PenOp CEO said the review is essential to ascertain that Remittance of Pension contributions is only done  through recognised payment platforms