PenCom to Launch PenCare Healthcare Programme for Retirees in November
By Patience Ikpeme
The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has announced plans to formally launch PenCare, its healthcare programme for retirees, in November to enhance medical access and support retirees’ welfare.
PenCom’s Director‑General, Ms Omolola Oloworaran, revealed the plan at the Senior Citizens Fair held during National Pension Week 2026 in Abuja.
She explained the initiative aims to ease retirees’ access to medical services and tackle concerns over rising healthcare costs and insufficient retirement income. “The pilot phase was already underway to test the programme before its wider implementation across the country,” Oloworaran said.
She noted the inauguration, which had been slated for Thursday, was postponed due to scheduling issues.
Oloworaran reiterated the commission’s dedication to embedding healthcare into retirement protection, stressing that retirees “deserved dignified lives after years of service and should not struggle to afford essential medical treatment.”
The DG further pointed to unequal pension payments among retirees in similar circumstances as “an anomaly requiring urgent attention from relevant authorities.” She said PenCom will keep working on policies, laws and regulations to safeguard pensioners and improve pension administration nationwide, and encouraged retirees to share feedback to help identify service gaps and refine policy. “PenCom would sustain engagement with labour unions and other stakeholders to address pension-related concerns and improve service delivery,” she added.
Speaking virtually at the fair, Consultant Geriatrician Dr Olutoyin Akande‑Ajala, founder of the JBS Gerontology Centre, urged older adults to prioritise healthy ageing and stay active, describing retirement as a chance for purposeful and fulfilling living. She advised retirees to seek prompt medical evaluation for persistent changes such as repeated falls, unexplained weight loss or notable memory decline.
Akande‑Ajala recommended regular exercise, balanced diets, routine checkups, proper management of chronic conditions, adherence to prescribed medications, and avoiding self‑medication. She also emphasised maintaining social ties, engaging the mind, and addressing loneliness for emotional and cognitive health, and urged families to respect older persons’ independence while offering appropriate support.
PenCom’s Commissioner for Finance, Dr Charles Emukowhate, encouraged retirees to remain engaged and to mentor younger people, while warning them about scams promising unrealistic returns. He urged pensioners to verify unsolicited investment offers with PenCom and their Pension Fund Administrators before committing funds.
Emukowhate assured attendees that PenCom will continue supervising the pension industry to protect retirement savings and ensure timely benefit payments. He praised President Bola Tinubu’s approval to settle N758 billion in inherited pension liabilities, calling it “a significant commitment to pension administration.”
The Senior Citizens Fair, part of National Pension Week 2026 included wellness activities, free health screenings, pension information sessions and conversations on improving retiree welfare. Attendees could learn about PenCare and the health insurance registration process. The event gathered retirees, pension beneficiaries, pension experts and other stakeholders to address healthcare access, financial security and the promotion of healthy ageing, underscoring the need for a pension system that preserves retirees’ dignity and well‑being.
