NLC Maintains Threat, Put NSITF, PENCOM Under Pressure

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has maintained that its seven-day ultimatum to the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) stands.

The labour centre warned that PENCOM’s failure to address lingering issues could still trigger industrial action despite receiving an official response from the NSITF.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP yesterday, NLC’s assistant general secretary, Comrade Chris Onyeka, confirmed that the union had received an official response from NSITF but had not heard directly from PENCOM.

He explained that while NSITF admitted to mistakes and sought forgiveness, the ball was now in the court of the NLC leadership to decide on the next steps.

“NSITF has taken a decision, which is one of the things we accused them of failing to do before.

They admitted that 50 per cent was being deducted from workers’ contributions and clarified that it resulted from a Finance Ministry circular. They have also asked for forgiveness over the false claim of ownership of our property,” he said.

Onyeka noted that NSITF’s response marked a shift from initial inaction.

“The leadership of NLC and its organs will now sit down and review the responses, but we have not seen anything from PENCOM yet, and that is where the danger lies,” he added.

The labour official also confirmed reports that the federal government had appointed Mr Opeyemi Agbaje as chairman of the PENCOM board, describing it as a necessary first step.

However, he explained, “If a chairman has been announced, then a board must follow, because a chairman cannot exist without a board. This suggests that the government has been listening to our demands, but the ultimatum remains in force until we see concrete actions from PENCOM.”

In a letter dated August 16, 2025, addressed to NLC President Joe Ajaero, NSITF Managing Director, Oluwaseun M. Faleye, acknowledged labour’s concerns and confirmed that deductions from workers’ contributions were due to a federal circular issued in December 2023.

Faleye disclosed that the Accountant General of the Federation had already reversed some deductions and pledged that no further deductions would be made from our funds under any guise.

The NSITF boss also tendered an apology over the fund’s earlier publication on the ownership of the NLC’s national headquarters, describing it as an embarrassment to the labour movement.

“We retract our recent publication and sincerely apologise to the congress and its leadership,” Faleye wrote.

He assured that the fund remained committed to protecting the interests of Nigerian workers.

LEADERSHIP reported that the face-off between NLC, NSITF, and PENCOM has been brewing for months over allegations of unauthorised deductions, weak oversight, and attempts to amend laws that labour fears could weaken workers’ rights.

In July, the NLC issued a letter demanding explanations from NSITF over the alleged diversion of workers’ contributions under the Employees’ Compensation Scheme.

The union accused the fund of collaborating with the finance ministry to treat workers’ contributions as revenue, contrary to the law.

PENCOM also came under fire for operating without a duly constituted board, a situation NLC said had crippled accountability and transparency in the management of workers’ pensions.

Labour further accused the government of ignoring tripartite representation in pension administration.

Matters came to a head on August 13, 2025, when NLC’s Central Working Committee issued a seven-day ultimatum threatening strike action unless both agencies resolved the issues.

The ultimatum has since pressured the government to act, culminating in NSITF’s clarifications and the president’s appointment of a chairman for PENCOM.

The labour movement insists that all options remain on the table until PENCOM formally addresses its concerns.