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Labour Insists On Going Ahead With Strike Despite Reps Intervention

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The organised labour insisted on starting industrial action on Monday over the recent hikes in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit ( petrol ) and electricity tariff, in spite of the intervention by the House of Representatives.
The workers said the strike will continue until their demands are met.
The Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress had jointly declared their readiness to embark on a nationwide strike and protests to compel the Federal Government to reverse the hikes . The hikes had generated nationwide criticism .
The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila , on Sunday met with President of the NLC , Ayuba Wabba ; and his TUC counterpart , Quadri Olaleye , among others .
Also at the meeting were the Deputy Majority Leader , Peter Akpatason ; and Chairman , House Committee on Labour , Ali Muhammed.
The opening session began at 10 : 30 am and ended at 10 : 52 am. The meeting went behind closed doors and lasted almost one hour .
Emerging from the meeting , Wabba dismissed the various court rulings barring the workers from industrial action .
He said, “ We have had a useful discussion with the leadership of the House of Representatives. We have shared our concerns and challenges with him ( Gbajabiamila ) , especially the very challenges of the implication of the hike in the tariff of electricity and the ( petrol ) pump price . We also told him how the discussions with the Federal Government went and how the meeting was adjourned .
“ He has also promised to try to intervene at his own level , to see to it that we don’ t inflict more pains on Nigerians . And in the course of the discussion , we have also realised that the House of Reps has done a lot on this issue , including recommendation to government which we have shared mutually .
“ But the bottom line is that we want this burden that has now been shifted to Nigerians as consumers to also be lifted so that we can have a decent life . ”
Responding to a question on court injunctions barring workers from embarking on strike , Wabba accused the Federal Government of also disregarding a subsisting court pronouncement against electricity tariff hike.
The NLC boss said , “ Are you not aware also that there is a court judgment stopping the tariff? This is a valid judgment from the High Court stopping the tariff increase and that judgment is still subsisting. Are you not aware of that ? And on the issue of the court judgment , we have not been served .
“ As I said, in good faith , you ’ll recall that we were on the negotiation table up till late Thursday night . Therefore , our expectation is that we should be able to, in good faith , continue to dialogue , not to try to ambush because we have not received the order as of today and we don ’ t know the details of any order . Clearly speaking , we cannot speak on something that is not before us.
“ The reality is that , on the issue of electricity tariff, we have a court judgment , not court order , that has nullified the increase in tariff and , therefore , we believe that the rule of law must always prevail . And in this case also , we want the right thing to be done .”
When asked if the organised labour would still go ahead with the strike as planned , Wabba said, “ If the issues are not addressed – you ’re aware that we’ ve given a notice and that notice will certainly expire by tomorrow – all the actions we have pronounced will certainly take effect. ”

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Business

Leadway Pensure PFA Celebrates 20th Anniversary

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Leadway Pensure PFA, a Pension Fund Administrator in Nigeria, proudly celebrates its 20th anniversary.
Over the last 20 years, the PFA has served thousands of customers across Nigeria and beyond, standing as a clear testament to its commitment to providing financial stability at various stages of workers’ career journeys.
Speaking on this remarkable achievement, Olusakin Labeodan, MD/CEO, Leadway Pensure PFA, stated: “As we celebrate 20 years of Leadway Pensure PFA, this milestone is more than a celebration of longevity, it is a tribute to trust, service and innovation. From the very beginning, our mission has been very clear, to deliver a pension system without barriers. Over two decades, we have transformed this vision into reality by simplifying pension access, embracing cutting-edge technology, and ensuring our services are always within reach. With a presence nationwide, a robust mobile platform and the AI-powered assistant LISA, we have placed pension services within the reach of eligible Nigerians.
We have supported countless customers in achieving life goals, from retirement to home ownership, by ensuring access, clarity and care at every step. This is a testament to the strong relationships and legacy we have built with every customer. Trust is at the heart of our service, propelling us to uphold world-class standards and earning us global certifications such as ISO/IEC 27001:2022 for information security, a mark of our unwavering commitment to safeguarding our customers’ funds,” he added.
Looking ahead, the company is committed to promoting youth-focused financial literacy, growing personal pension plans and strengthening customer engagement across every stage of the pension journey. “The next years and beyond will be shaped by the same dedication that brought us this far, a future-forward mindset, a culture of excellence, and an unyielding promise to stand by our customers every step of the way,” Olusakin concluded.
As it commemorates 20 years of service, Leadway Pensure reaffirms its commitment to simplifying retirement planning, delivering consistent value, and driving financial inclusion across Nigeria. With a clear vision for the future, the firm remains dedicated to being the trusted partner in providing financial wellness for generations to come.

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PenCom, NAICOM Bar Insurers From Doing Business With Defaulting Employers

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The National Pension Commission (PenCom) and the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) have directed insurance companies and their vendors to fully comply with Nigeria’s pension and insurance laws.
The new directive, contained in a joint circular signed by Abdulrahaman Muhammad Saleem, Director of Surveillance Department at PenCom, and Dr. Talmiz Usman, Director of Legal, Enforcement and Market Development at NAICOM, seeks to strengthen compliance with the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014 and the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025.
The circular focus on compliance with the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and the requirement for all employers to maintain Group Life Assurance (GLA) coverage for their employees.
Under Section 2 of the PRA 2014, every employer in the public and private sectors must participate in the CPS, remit pension deductions not later than seven working days after salary payment, and provide life insurance cover for employees.
However, despite continuous engagements, audits, and sanctions by PenCom, a significant number of employers, including some within the financial services industry, have remained in breach of these legal obligations.
PenCom revealed that it has appointed Recovery Agents to audit defaulting employers, impose administrative sanctions, and pursue judicial recovery of outstanding pension contributions and penalties.
Yet, the persistence of non-compliance has continued to threaten the sustainability and credibility of the CPS, prompting this joint enforcement strategy with NAICOM.
By this new circular, all Licensed Insurance Companies must possess valid Pension Clearance Certificates (PCCs) from PenCom and Group Life Assurance Certificates compliant with NIIRA 2025 before engaging in any operational or investment activity.
Every vendor, service provider, and counterparty that seeks to do business with insurance companies must also hold valid PCCs and GLA Certificates, as a pre-condition for any contractual agreement.
The directive further extends to investment transactions, including commercial papers, bond issuances, and bank placements. All counterparties involved must execute a Compliance Attestation, affirming that their own vendors and service providers also maintain valid PCCs and GLA Certificates.
This cascading requirement effectively embeds pension and insurance compliance throughout the investment value chain, ensuring that no entity within the insurance ecosystem operates outside the law.
Insurance firms are also required to integrate these compliance requirements into their internal policies, vendor selection, due diligence, and investment risk assessment frameworks.
Similarly, parent companies, subsidiaries, holding firms, and institutional shareholders of insurance entities must demonstrate full compliance before any business dealings are approved.
Recognising the operational adjustments that the new measures demand, PenCom and NAICOM have granted a six-month transition window from the date of the circular to enable full implementation.
During this period, insurance companies are expected to align their internal processes, communicate compliance expectations to vendors, and update their governance frameworks accordingly.

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NAICOM Launches Implementation Working Groups For NIIRA 2025

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By Sola Alabadan

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) on Tuesday in Abuja launched three implementation working groups for the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Agenda (NIIRA) 2025. They are: Compulsory Insurance Working Group, Digitisation Working Group and Financial Inclusion Working Group.

The Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Olusegun Omosehin, inaugurated the working groups to drive the structured and coordinated execution of NIIRA’s objectives across the insurance value chain.

The NIIRA 2025 signed into law earlier this year—sets out a holistic roadmap for regulatory reform, financial inclusion, digital transformation, and compulsory insurance enforcement.
Its implementation aims to align Nigeria’s insurance industry with international standards while improving public confidence and economic resilience through risk protection.

Speaking during the strategy session, the Commissioner for Insurance reaffirmed NAICOM’s commitment to ensuring that the implementation phase of NIIRA is inclusive, data-driven, and results-oriented.
He emphasised that the strategy would consolidate ongoing reforms within the Commission and reposition the insurance industry as a key player in national economic growth.

“This marks the beginning of a coordinated journey toward achieving a stronger, more transparent, and technology-driven insurance industry. The NIIRA 2025 is not just a regulatory document—it is a blueprint for building an insurance sector that protects lives, businesses, and investments across Nigeria,” Mr. Omosehin stated.

He further stated that the new working groups would serve as engines of reform, ensuring that critical policy objectives are translated into measurable outcomes.

The Compulsory Insurance Working Group with Mr. Shola Tinubu as Chairman, is to strengthen the enforcement and adoption of all compulsory insurance schemes across the country, including Motor (Third Party), Builders Liability, Group Life, Professional Indemnity, and Public Buildings insurance.

This is to ensure nationwide compliance, improve public understanding of compulsory insurance, and enhance policyholder protection through active collaboration with federal and state enforcement agencies.

The Digitisation Working Group with Adetola Adegbayi as Chairperson, is to modernise the insurance regulatory ecosystem through innovative digital tools and platforms.

This is to enhance transparency, data integrity, and regulatory oversight, as well as improve operational efficiency and reduce processing time for licensing, claims, and renewals.

It is also intended to expand accessibility to insurance products through digital channels and mobile platforms, as well as to implement key digital transformation provisions of NIIRA 2025 (Sections 19–20 and 128) to foster innovation and cross-sector integration.

The Financial Inclusion Working Group with Dr. Yeside Oyetayo as Chairperson, is to deepen insurance penetration, particularly among underserved and low-income populations.

This is aimed at expanding microinsurance and takaful outreach, while also facilitating collaboration with financial inclusion stakeholders, such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), development partners, and fintech firms.

The Commissioner commended stakeholders for their dedication and expressed confidence that the new implementation structure would fast-track industry-wide reforms. He stressed that the success of NIIRA 2025 depends on active collaboration among regulators, operators, and consumers.

“This strategy represents a shared responsibility to deliver results that will redefine the perception and impact of insurance in Nigeria. We must all see ourselves as partners in national development,” he added.

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