The National Pension Commission has moved to tighten Nigeria’s pension system by accrediting pension recovery agents as a key pillar in protecting workers’ retirement funds. The agents have been tasked with recovering N32.27 billion from defaulting employers, made up of N15.87 billion in unpaid pension contributions and N16.40 billion in penalties accumulated between June 2012 and September 2025.
In a statement by PenCom’s management, the Director General, Ms. Omolola Oloworaran, announced the development during a workshop in Lagos, where she declared a new phase of zero tolerance for pension defaulters. She reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to strict enforcement across the pension sector. Oloworaran, represented by the Commissioner in charge of Inspectorate PenCom, Samuel Chigozie Uwandu, addressed participants during an intensive training session for accredited recovery agents.
She said the training signals a renewed national compliance effort aimed at recovering pension debts from employers who continue to violate the Pension Reform Act 2014. The law mandates employers to remit pension contributions within seven working days after salary payments.
According to her, “The workshop outlined new strategic initiatives that will strengthen enforcement efforts, deepen inter-agency collaboration, and empower recovery agents to tackle non-remittance of pension contributions with greater precision and authority.”
She explained that PenCom is actively engaging recovery agents to audit defaulting companies, compute outstanding liabilities, issue formal demand notices, and push for the recovery of unremitted contributions. She noted that recovery agents have played a vital role since 2012, when the compliance drive began.
She added that the commission recorded notable gains in the third quarter of 2025 alone, recovering N2.06 billion comprising N775 million in principal contributions and N1.27 billion in penalties from 49 defaulting employers.
She stressed that while the Contributory Pension Scheme has grown over the years, persistent employer defaults weaken its core mission. “Every unremitted Naira represents a broken promise to a Nigerian worker as this Commission has moved from promoting voluntary compliance to mandating enforced compliance. The era of impunity is over,” she said.
Oloworaran also stated that the recovery agents were selected through a competitive and transparent process, reflecting the commission’s confidence in their capacity and professionalism. She reminded participants that they serve as the operational arm of PenCom’s enforcement mandate and are central to safeguarding workers’ retirement savings.
The Director General highlighted several reforms shaping PenCom’s expanded enforcement framework, including stronger partnerships with the Corporate Affairs Commission, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, and other regulatory bodies.
Under these alliances, employers’ compliance with the pension law will influence their regulatory standing. She warned that employers who default may face wider consequences, affecting business operations, access to government services, and other regulatory privileges as the drive for accountability intensifies nationwide.
