Abuja: The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the disbursement of N7.61 billion to nine Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) to facilitate the payment of retirement benefits to 4,237 retirees. The Comptroller-General (C-G) of NCS, Bashir Adeniyi, revealed this during a dialogue with retirees, emphasizing the service’s dedication to enhancing the welfare of its retired personnel.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, NCS’s Spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, stated that the C-G confirmed the funds had been transferred to the PFAs for distribution into the retirees’ individual accounts. This initiative is part of continuous efforts to improve retirees’ pensions following the Federal Government’s decision to reassess the statutory provisions governing pensions. This includes the revision of Section 15(4) of the Pension Reform Act 2014, in accordance with Section 173(3) of the 1999 constitution, as amended.
The breakdown presented at the meeting indicated that Access-ARM Pension Managers will cater to 1,223 beneficiaries, Premium Pension will handle 2,268, Leadway Pensions will manage 403, TrustFund Pensions will cover 156, and FCMB Pensions will oversee 144. The remaining beneficiaries include Veritas Glanvills Pensions with 28, Norrenberger Pensions with 11, and Fidelity Pension Managers with four, summing up to a total of 4,237 beneficiaries.
In his address to the retirees, Adeniyi highlighted the importance of the service remaining robust and financially equipped to fulfill its commitments to both current and retired officers. He stressed that the well-being of officers who have dedicated their careers to the NCS is crucial to the institution’s future. The NCS leader encouraged retirees to maintain constructive engagement with the service, noting that it is essential for fostering mutual understanding.
Adeniyi acknowledged the retirees’ concerns and suggestions, explaining that the dialogue was initiated to promote better understanding and minimize the impact of rumors and unofficial information on the relationship between the service and its retired personnel.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that retirees expressed gratitude to the C-G and his management team for establishing a platform for direct engagement. They also encouraged the service to continue the dialogue as part of efforts to strengthen the relationship between current officers and retired personnel.