PenCom Recovers N32.27bn
…Vows ‘Zero Tolerance’ For Pension Defaulters
By Patience Ikpeme
The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has declared a new era of “zero tolerance” against employers who fail to remit workers’ contributions, disclosing that it has cumulatively recovered ₦32.27 billion—comprising ₦15.87 billion in principal contributions and ₦16.40 billion in penalties—from defaulting employers since 2012.
The announcement was made during an intensive Training Workshop for accredited Recovery Agents held in Lagos on 2 December 2025, presided over by the Director General of PenCom, Ms. Omolola Oloworaran, who was represented by the Commissioner Inspectorate, Hon. Samuel Chigozie Uwandu.
The training session marks a nationwide compliance push to recover outstanding pension liabilities from employers who violate the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014, which mandates the remittance of contributions within seven working days of salary payment.
PenCom data shows that the Commission recorded significant compliance gains in the third quarter of 2025 alone, recovering ₦2.06 billion (₦775 million principal and ₦1.27 billion penalties) from 49 defaulting employers, a figure reflecting a sustained surge in enforcement activities.
Ms. Oloworaran told workshop participants that despite the successes of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), persistent defaults by employers threaten the system’s fundamental purpose.
“Every unremitted Naira represents a broken promise to a Nigerian worker,” she said. “This Commission has moved from promoting voluntary compliance to mandating enforced compliance. The era of impunity is over.”
The Director General detailed several bold initiatives forming PenCom’s expanded enforcement architecture, including forming stronger partnerships with key regulatory bodies such as the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). Under these partnerships, an employer’s compliance with the PRA 2014 will influence their standing with these other agencies.
Crucially, the DG brought attention to the newly executed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). This agreement empowers the ICPC to hold the management of recalcitrant employers personally accountable, turning pension defaults into a matter with potential criminal implications.
“This MoU is a decisive step to give teeth to our recovery efforts,” the DG stated. “No employer should imagine that withholding workers’ pensions is without consequences.”
The training modules were designed to sharpen the Recovery Agents’ skills in employer audit, liability computation, documentation, and the use of enhanced digital compliance tools. Ms. Oloworaran reminded participants that they are the “operational arm of PenCom’s enforcement will” and critical to the strategy to safeguard retirement savings.
She concluded her remarks with a powerful charge to the Recovery Agents, stating: “You are the ambassadors of this new resolve, an Act with unwavering ethical standards, exercise professional care, and be relentless in securing what is rightfully due to the Nigerian worker.”
PenCom stated it would provide all necessary institutional support to ensure every kobo owed is recovered, signaling an intensification of compliance activities throughout 2026 and beyond.
