The Nigerian National Assembly Service Commission’s workforce is advocating for re-enrollment into the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), a mere two years after legislation removed them from its purview. This call to action emerged during a stakeholder engagement session convened by the House of Representatives Committee on Pensions in Abuja, focused on reviewing the Pension Reform Act of 2014. The Clerk of the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, formally submitted a memorandum to the committee, articulating the service’s desire to rejoin the CPS, signifying a shift in their stance despite the establishment of a dedicated pension board for the Assembly.
This renewed interest in the CPS arises despite the enactment of the National Assembly Service Pensions Board (Establishment) Act in April 2023. This legislation, signed into law under the previous administration, created an independent pension board specifically for National Assembly staff, effectively excluding them from the broader CPS framework established under the Pension Reform Act of 2014. However, the implementation of this separate pension board has yet to commence, leaving the Assembly staff in a state of limbo regarding their retirement provisions. The current call for re-enrollment suggests a preference for the established CPS over the yet-to-be-operationalized independent board.
The impetus for the review of the Pension Reform Act 2014, as explained by Hussaini Jalo, Chairman of the House Committee on Pensions, is to address emerging challenges and adapt the legislation to current economic realities. This review aims to be comprehensive and inclusive, inviting stakeholders to pinpoint specific areas requiring amendment. This stakeholder engagement session included representatives from various key
