The National Pension Commission, PenCom, is stepping up efforts to recover over ₦1.3 billion in unpaid pension contributions owed by newspaper organisations across Nigeria.
Director General of PenCom, Ms. Omolola Oloworaran, disclosed this during a visit to the Nigerian Press Council in Abuja, where she raised concerns over widespread non-compliance with the Pension Reform Act of 2014 among media houses.
Ms. Oloworaran emphasized that many organisations have consistently failed to remit monthly pension contributions into employees’ Retirement Savings Accounts, as mandated by law. In response, PenCom has deployed Recovery Agents to audit defaulting media houses, quantify outstanding debts, and apply applicable penalties.
Highlighting the critical role of journalists in promoting accountability in society, the PenCom DG stressed the need for media organisations to lead by example in adhering to pension regulations. She stated, “Journalists deserve to retire with dignity,” adding that pension contributions are vital safeguards against poverty in old age.
In a major development, PenCom and the Nigerian Press Council have agreed to a strategic collaboration aimed at ensuring full compliance and recovery of the outstanding liabilities. A joint working group comprising representatives from both bodies has been established to fast-track the process.
Responding, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Press Council, Dr. Dili Ezughah, pledged the Council’s full support. He promised to escalate the issue to key industry stakeholders, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists and the Nigerian Guild of Editors, describing the persistent non-remittance of pensions as a major threat to journalists’ welfare.
The engagement marks the first time PenCom is collaborating at such a high level with the media industry, signaling a renewed focus on enforcing pension compliance across all sectors.
