The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has stepped up enforcement to ensure nationwide adoption of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) by creating a specialized monitoring platform focused on non-compliant state governments. It launched the 1st Bi-Annual Consultative Session for Heads of Service from states that have not fully adopted or implemented the scheme, aiming to accelerate pension reform at the sub‑national level and secure retirement protection for public servants.
The session—intended as a high-level forum for engagement and knowledge sharing—featured Didi Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, as Special Guest of Honour, highlighting federal support for harmonizing pension arrangements across all tiers of government.
PenCom Director‑General Omolola Oloworaran warned about the slow pace of state-level implementation, describing the initiative as a targeted effort to close the implementation gap. She said the consultative framework will offer hands‑on assistance to help lagging states manage the transition, grasp the fiscal advantages of CPS, and remove barriers to adoption.
Roundtable data showed that although 26 states have passed pension reform laws, only seven states plus the Federal Capital Territory are fully implementing CPS—leaving 29 states behind despite having laws or pending bills. Participants agreed that limited technical capacity and political constraints have hindered progress and called for stronger political will, focused technical support from PenCom, and steady engagement with organized labour to speed nationwide rollout. Discussions covered state-specific issues such as accrued pension liabilities and the complex move away from the costly Defined Benefits Scheme. PenCom expects the new bi‑annual consultative platform to help more states move from passing laws to full compliance, protecting civil servants from old‑age poverty.
