By Peter Omopo
Workers of the National Assembly Service Commission have called for their return to the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), nearly two years after being exempted through a law establishing a separate pension board.
The demand was presented on Tuesday during a stakeholder engagement session organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Pensions in Abuja. The session focused on the ongoing review of the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014.
In a memorandum submitted to the committee, the Clerk of the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, revealed that the Service had reconsidered its withdrawal from the CPS and now seeks re-enrolment, despite the creation of the National Assembly Service Pensions Board.
The National Assembly Service Pensions Board (Establishment) Act, signed into law in April 2023 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, had established an independent pension body for Assembly staff, effectively removing them from the purview of the PRA 2014. However, the implementation of the law has yet to begin.
Chairman of the House Committee on Pensions, Hon. Hussaini Jalo, in his remarks at the opening of the session, said the review of the PRA was critical to addressing new challenges and ensuring the legislation reflects current realities. He called on stakeholders to identify specific provisions in need of amendment.
The engagement session was attended by representatives from key institutions, including the National Pension Commission (PenCom), the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria, the Military Pensions Board, and the Nigeria Police Force.
PenCom, in its submission, expressed support for the ongoing review process and recommended that the resolutions from stakeholder consultations held in 2022 be revisited to guide the amendment process.
