Pension reforms not 2027 campaign gimmick — PenCom

Résumé détaillé

The National Pension Commission has denied that its new minimum pension guarantee and free healthcare initiatives are a gimmick for the 2027 elections. Read More:…

The National Pension Commission has dismissed suggestions that the unveiling of its minimum pension guarantee and free healthcare initiatives for retirees was timed to boost President Bola Tinubu’s re-election prospects, saying the reforms were part of its ongoing mandate.

The PUNCH reported on Tuesday that Tinubu had formally unveiled the N52,500 monthly guarantee for 173,209 eligible retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme, alongside PenCare, a free healthcare initiative for low-income pensioners.

PenCom Director-General, Omolola Oloworaran, said the commission had been implementing pension reforms since July 2024 and was not guided by electoral considerations.

She spoke on Tuesday at a press conference at the State House, Abuja, following the unveiling of the initiatives.

Responding to a question on whether the timing of the unveiling was politically motivated, Oloworaran asked whether there was ever a wrong time to introduce measures aimed at improving the lives of Nigerians.

“Is there ever a time that is bad for doing good for ordinary Nigerians, for putting a smile on people’s faces? Every day you wake up, we try to see what we can do to improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians,” she said.

She cited previous pension increases, including the N32,000 consequential adjustment and an increase of more than 1,000 per cent for retirees of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund in January, as evidence that the reforms were not driven by the election calendar.

“When we did the pension boost, there was no election. The N32,000 consequential increase last year, was election knocking on the door? No. Earlier this year, retirees of NSITF in January got over 1,000 per cent increase. Should we have waited until December?” she said.

Oloworaran also said the unveiling was initially planned for September but was postponed to allow the pension industry to complete other preparations.

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