Pension Crisis: Civil Servants Seek Urgent Legal Amendments

The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria has called for an urgent amendment of the nation’s pension law, urging the National Assembly to adopt reforms that will ensure more equitable and accessible retirement packages for civil servants.

At a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday, the association’s national president, Shehu Muhammed, lamented the persistent challenges associated with the contributory pension scheme, which has left many retirees unable to access their terminal benefits promptly.

“Some retirees have died without ever receiving their retirement benefits. From this, you can see that there is no difference between the old system and the new system; we are essentially back to square one, where retirees spend years without accessing their terminal benefits,”

Muhammed stated.

He attributed the delays to employers’ failure to remit contributions to the National Pension Commission, a situation that leaves affected retirees stranded.

He emphasized the need for legislative intervention.

“There is still a window for improvement through those who formulated the law—the National Assembly. We will return to the National Assembly with suggestions for amending the law to ensure retirees can access their money immediately after leaving service.”

Muhammed also highlighted the broader implications of high unemployment rates, linking it to the rising insecurity in the country. He called on the government to implement policies and programmes that foster job creation and support for small businesses, noting that many Nigerians graduate annually with the expectation of securing white-collar jobs, only to face limited opportunities.

The association stressed that amending the pension law is critical to restoring faith in the system and ensuring that workers can retire wi

th dignity.

Civil Servants Demand Pension Law Reforms for Improved Benefits

The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria has called for an urgent amendment of the nation’s pension law, urging the National Assembly to adopt reforms that will ensure more equitable and accessible retirement packages for civil servants.

At a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday, the association’s national president, Shehu Muhammed, lamented the persistent challenges associated with the contributory pension scheme, which has left many retirees unable to access their terminal benefits promptly.

“Some retirees have died without ever receiving their retirement benefits. From this, you can see that there is no difference between the old system and the new system; we are essentially back to square one, where retirees spend years without accessing their terminal benefits,” Muhammed stated.

He attributed the delays to employers’ failure to remit contributions to the National Pension Commission, a situation that leaves affected retirees stranded. He emphasized the need for legislative intervention: “There is still a window for improvement through those who formulated the law—the National Assembly. We will return to the National Assembly with suggestions for amending the law to ensure retirees can access their money immediately after leaving service.”

Muhammed also highlighted the broader implications of high unemployment rates, linking it to the rising insecurity in the country. He called on the government to implement policies and programmes that foster job creation and support for small businesses, noting that many Nigerians graduate annually with the expectation of securing white-collar jobs, only to face limited opportunities.

The association stressed that amending the pension law is critical to restoring faith in the system and ensuring that workers can retire with dignity.