PenCom Extends Pension Enrolment Deadline to December 31 Over Low Turnout

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has extended the deadline for the mandatory One-Time Online Verification and Enrolment Exercise for employees of treasury-funded Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) entitled to accrued pension rights, from 31 July to 31 December 2026.

The exercise, which began in February 2026, covers active employees who transited from the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) to the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) when the latter was introduced in 2004. PenCom said the extension followed several requests from MDAs seeking additional time for their employees to participate in the online enrolment process.

Figures released by the Commission showed that participation has been low. As at July 2026, MDAs had uploaded 62,320 records of active employees and retirees, but only 31,099 employees had successfully completed the enrolment process. Both figures fall short of an estimated 150,000 active Federal Government employees entitled to accrued pension rights, underscoring the low turnout that necessitated the extension.

PenCom urged eligible employees who are yet to enrol, as well as those who started but did not complete the process, to take advantage of the additional time to conclude their enrolment.

The exercise is designed to help the Federal Government settle pension liabilities carried over from the DBS. Under Section 15(1) of the Pension Reform Act 2014, employees who transited to the CPS are entitled to accrued pension rights, comprising pension and gratuity benefits earned from their date of first appointment up to 30 June 2004. The determination of these accrued rights is based on an actuarial valuation process.

The Commission said all active employees of Federal Government treasury-funded MDAs who were in service as at 30 June 2004 are covered by the accrued pension rights provisions.

In a circular issued on 27 April 2026, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation had directed all treasury-funded MDAs to support the exercise and ensure that eligible employees complete the One-Time Enrolment, describing it as essential for determining the Federal Government’s outstanding pension liabilities and making adequate budgetary provisions for their settlement.

The enrolment exercise is fully digital and is conducted through PenCom’s Contributions and Bond Redemption Application (COBRA), a platform designed to facilitate data capture, validation and processing. Under the process, MDAs are required to upload the details of eligible employees on the COBRA platform, after which the affected employees are expected to visit their respective Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) with the required documents to complete their enrolment.

Pension Desk Officers (PDOs), who have been trained by PenCom, coordinate the exercise within their organisations and guide employees through the process. PenCom said it continues to collaborate with MDAs, PFAs and other stakeholders to improve awareness, facilitate participation and ensure that eligible employees are properly captured.

The Commission explained that early completion of the exercise facilitates the determination of accrued pension rights and enables the necessary funding to be secured from the Federal Government. It said the amounts would subsequently be credited to employees’ Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs) well ahead of retirement, thereby earning investment returns and boosting retirement benefits.

While the extension to 31 December 2026 provides additional time, PenCom urged eligible employees and their respective MDAs not to delay completion of the process, calling on all eligible employees and treasury-funded MDAs to take full advantage of the extension and complete the enrolment exercise before the new deadline.