The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has disbursed ₦7.61 billion to nine Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) for the payment of retirement benefits to 4,237 retired officers, reaffirming its commitment to improving the welfare of former personnel.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, announced the development during a dialogue with retirees in Abuja, where he assured participants of the Service’s continued commitment to supporting its retired workforce.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada, the funds have already been transferred to the PFAs for onward payment into the individual accounts of the beneficiaries.
Maiwada explained that the disbursement aligns with the Federal Government’s ongoing review of pension legislation aimed at enhancing retirement benefits, including proposed amendments to the Pension Reform Act 2014 in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
Speaking during the engagement, Adeniyi said the NCS remained committed to ensuring that both serving officers and retirees receive the support they deserve. He stressed that personnel who had devoted years of service to the organisation should continue to enjoy adequate welfare after retirement.
He further noted that the Service must remain financially resilient to fulfil its obligations to both serving and retired personnel, adding that improving retirees’ welfare is essential to the institution’s long-term strength and sustainability.
Providing a breakdown of the disbursement, Maiwada said Access ARM Pension Managers received funds for 1,223 beneficiaries, while Premium Pension received allocations for 2,268 retirees. Leadway Pensions received payments for 403 beneficiaries, Trustfund Pensions for 156, FCMB Pensions for 144, Veritas Glanvills Pensions for 28, Norrenberger Pensions for 11, Fidelity Pension Managers for four retirees, while the remaining beneficiaries were covered by the ninth Pension Fund Administrator, bringing the total number of retirees to 4,237.
Adeniyi also urged retirees to maintain open communication with the Service, noting that sustained dialogue would strengthen mutual trust and curb the spread of misinformation.
“I acknowledge your concerns and suggestions, and it is because of these that we called for this dialogue. This is to promote better understanding and reduce the effect of rumours and unofficial information on the relationship between the Service and its retired personnel,” he said.
The retirees commended the Comptroller-General and the Customs management team for providing a platform for direct engagement. They also appealed to the Service to sustain the initiative, saying regular interactions would further strengthen the relationship between serving officers and retired personnel.
