PenCom extends pension verification to December

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has extended the deadline for mandatory online verification and enrolment of Federal Government workers to December 31, 2026. This decision came after 118,901 eligible employees failed to complete the exercise in time. Initially, the deadline was set for July 31, 2026, but PenCom received numerous requests from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for additional time to enable their employees to participate in the process.

As of July 2026, only 31,099 employees had successfully enrolled, falling short of the estimated 150,000 active Federal Government employees entitled to accrued pension rights. The extension was granted to allow affected workers to establish their pension entitlements before retirement. The exercise, which began in February 2026, is part of efforts to determine and settle pension liabilities inherited from the Defined Benefit Scheme, which existed before the introduction of the Contributory Pension Scheme in 2004.

Eligible workers who migrated from the old pension arrangement to the Contributory Pension Scheme are entitled to accrued pension rights, including pension and gratuity benefits earned from their first appointment up to June 30, 2004. PenCom emphasized the importance of completing the enrolment process, as it is crucial for determining the Federal Government's outstanding pension liabilities and ensuring adequate budgetary provisions for their settlement.

The extension provides affected employees with an additional five months to finalize their enrolment.