The National Pension Commission, PenCom, has extended the pension verification deadline for employees of Federal Government treasury-funded Ministries, Departments and Agencies entitled to accrued pension rights.
The commission moved the deadline for its mandatory One-Time Online Verification and Enrolment Exercise from July 31 to December 31, 2026, following low participation by eligible employees and requests from several MDAs for additional time.
PenCom said 62,320 records of active employees and retirees had been uploaded by MDAs as of July, but only 31,099 employees had successfully completed the enrolment process.
The figure represents a significant gap against the estimated 150,000 active Federal Government employees believed to be entitled to accrued pension rights.
The exercise, which began in February 2026, is aimed at accurately determining the accrued pension benefits of eligible workers before retirement. PenCom urged employees who have not started the process, as well as those who began but have not completed it, to use the extended period to finish their enrolment.
The initiative forms part of efforts to address pension liabilities inherited from the former Defined Benefit Scheme, which preceded the introduction of the Contributory Pension Scheme in 2004.
Under Section 15(1) of the Pension Reform Act 2014, employees who moved into the CPS are entitled to accrued pension rights for benefits earned under the former scheme. These include pension and gratuity benefits accumulated from the date of first appointment up to June 30, 2004.
PenCom said the exercise would help determine the Federal Government’s outstanding pension liabilities and support appropriate budgetary provisions for their settlement.
The commission added that a circular issued on April 27, 2026, by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation directed treasury-funded MDAs to support the exercise and ensure that eligible employees completed the one-time enrolment.
The pension verification deadline extension covers an exercise conducted entirely online through PenCom’s Contributions and Bond Redemption Application, COBRA.
The platform is being used to capture, validate and process information required to determine employees’ accrued pension rights.
According to PenCom, completing the process early would allow the government to determine the amounts required for funding. Once the necessary funds are provided, the accrued benefits would be credited to beneficiaries’ Retirement Savings Accounts, where they can earn investment returns.
MDAs are responsible for uploading the details of eligible employees on COBRA, after which affected workers are expected to approach their respective Pension Fund Administrators with the required documents to complete the process.
Pension Desk Officers, who have been trained by PenCom, are also responsible for coordinating the exercise within their organisations and assisting employees with the enrolment process.
PenCom said it was working with MDAs, PFAs and other stakeholders to increase awareness and participation before the new deadline.
The commission stressed that active employees of Federal Government treasury-funded MDAs who were in service as of June 30, 2004, fall under the accrued pension rights provisions.
It therefore urged all eligible workers and their respective MDAs to take advantage of the extension and complete the verification and enrolment process before December 31, 2026.
