The National Pension Commission (PenCom) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have announced plans to commence enforcement operations against employers failing to remit workers’ pension deductions under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) from June 1 in Lagos State.
The announcement was made by the Lagos NLC Chairperson, Mrs. Funmi Sesi, following an interactive session organised by PenCom in Lagos to sensitise labour leaders on pension compliance obligations under the Pension Reform Act.
Sesi said the decision became necessary following growing complaints from workers in both public and private establishments over unpaid pension contributions.
Speaking during the session, she condemned the continued failure of some employers and government agencies to remit pension deductions to Pension Fund Administrators despite making monthly deductions from workers’ salaries.
“It is unacceptable that, in spite of monthly deductions from workers’ salaries, some employers deliberately fail to remit the funds,” she said.
According to Sesi, the non-remittance of pension contributions threatens workers’ future and undermines their financial security after retirement.
“The non-remittance of pension contributions constitutes a gross violation of labour laws and an abuse of workers’ trust,” she stated.
She described pension as a fundamental right of workers, stressing that employees deserved to retire with dignity after years of service.
Sesi said the increasing volume of complaints received by the NLC and PenCom had prompted the decision to begin monitoring and enforcement operations in collaboration with relevant stakeholders across Lagos State.
She warned that the congress would mobilise affiliate unions against employers that failed to comply with pension remittance obligations.
“If we need to purchase locks and keys just to ensure compliance and enforcement, we will apply that. We are the voice for the voiceless, the power for workers, and the last hope of workers and pensioners,” she said.
Sesi further warned that defaulting employers could face public exposure and possible legal action for violating pension regulations.
She urged employers to comply fully with pension laws to promote industrial harmony, social justice, and national development.
Also speaking, the Director-General of PenCom, Ms. Omolola Oloworaran, said the CPS was designed to guarantee financial security for workers after retirement.
Oloworaran, who was represented by the Head of Compliance and Enforcement Department, Mr. Ahmed Lawan, said retirees had previously faced severe hardship due to delayed pension payments before the introduction of the scheme.
She noted that although the CPS had improved pension administration, some employers were still frustrating the system by failing to remit workers’ deductions.
“Deducting workers’ pension contributions without remitting them is a criminal offence under the pension law,” she warned.
The PenCom boss also warned ministries, departments, agencies, parastatals, and private firms against denying workers their pension rights, adding that retirement should not become painful after years of dedicated service.
She encouraged affected workers to report defaulting organisations to the NLC for investigation and enforcement, assuring whistleblowers that their identities would be protected where necessary.
Oloworaran also announced that PenCom and the NLC would begin joint monitoring and enforcement exercises across Lagos from June.
“We will go after organisations involved in the non-remittance of workers’ pension deductions in Lagos State,” she said.
Meanwhile, the NLC inaugurated a committee of task force commanders drawn from affiliate unions to support enforcement operations across the state.
