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NIIRA Will Enhance Local Retention Capacity, Facilitate Economic Growth – NAICOM

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By Sola Alabadan

The Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr. Olusegun Omosehin, said that the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act 2025 (NIIRA) will lead to more employment generation, enhance the industry’s capacity to retain more risks locally, as well as facilitate economic growth in the country.

NIIRA, which was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in July 2025, is designed to expand insurance penetration and improve industry stability.

There is a concensus among experts who spoke at the 10th annual conference of the Nigerian Association of Insurance and Pension Editors on Tuesday in Lagos, that the new law has strengthened the ability of the sector to improve its contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.

The industry experts maintained that the new legislation could position insurance as a key driver of Nigeria’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy.

The Commissioner, who was represented by the Director, Legal, Enforcement, and Market Development, NAICOM, Dr Talmiz Usman, at the conference said: “One of the key things is the repositioning of the sector in terms of the financial muscle. It has now introduced two tiers of capital. The first is the minimum capital requirement. Now the minimum capital has been shored up to N10 billion for Life, N15 billion for Non-Life, and N35 billion for Reinsurance. What this translates to is that insurance companies will have more capacity, higher businesses, take care of higher risks and retain local content. This will also lead to economic growth, employment generation, and more retention of local capacity domestication.

“The second layer is the Risk-Based Capital. This is not a one-size-fits-all. It is time for operators to provide capital that matches the level of their risk exposure. What the regulator is expected to do is to determine that, for an underwriter to underwrite any level of business, you must have a certain level of capital threshold in relation to your risk exposure. What that translates to is that, apart from what we are seeing in terms of that, yes, the company can write, it also translates to building confidence in the insurance sector, and I am sure that for the company to be able to underwrite this kind of business, it has the financial capability to do it.”

Usman asserted that with the NIIRA 2025, companies will be able to pay claims, saying, “The role of the regulator is to make sure that operators pay claims. And that will now boost the trust in the insurance sector.

Another thing that the new Act is encouraging is simplicity of operations. In this case, even the Proposal Form should be as simple as possible for the prospect to be able to understand what he/she is going into.

“The law also provides that before the commencement of your policy, you must issue a policy document which contains the terms of the contract. This was not captured in the previous legal instruments. The law says the policy document must be in simple and clear terms that anybody can see, read and understand. This alone will build trust and boost public confidence in the insurance sector.”

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Business

Paga Partners Leadway Assurance To Safeguard Doroki Merchants

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Paga, the fintech company behind the Doroki merchant platform, has entered into a strategic partnership with Leadway Assurance, one of Nigeria’s foremost insurance providers, to deliver comprehensive insurance solutions designed specifically for Doroki merchants.
The collaboration aims to help merchants safeguard their businesses against everyday risks and recover quickly from unforeseen events.

Under this partnership, Doroki merchants will gain access to tailored insurance solutions designed to protect the critical components of their day-to-day operations thereby safeguarding their income, assets, and continuity of operations.

Beyond offering coverage, this initiative is built on a holistic approach to risk resilience. Doroki and Leadway will equip merchants with clear guidance on what each product covers, how to file a claim, and best practices for risk management—empowering them with knowledge that strengthens decision-making and builds confidence in handling uncertainties.

“At Doroki, we see our merchants as partners in driving economic activity across Nigeria’s retail landscape. This partnership with Leadway—an insurer with decades of experience and a strong reputation for reliability—means our merchants can focus on growing their businesses with the peace of mind that they are protected,” said the General Manager of Doroki Merchants, Arike Okwunowo.

Commenting on the development, Head of Digital Business, Leadway, Diana Mulili reiterated Leadway’s commitment to expanding access to financial security for every Nigerian.
“At Leadway, we believe insurance should integrate seamlessly into the everyday realities of people and businesses. By partnering with Doroki, we are embedding practical, easy-to-understand insurance solutions into a platform merchants already trust—helping them protect their income, assets, and livelihoods while continuing to grow with confidence,” Mulili stressed.

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PenCom To Launch Data Recapture Self-Service Platform February 1

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The National Pension Commission (PenCom), in collaboration with Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), will launch a self-service online data recapture application known as the Data Recapture Self-Service Platform (PENCAP) on 1 February 2026.
The platform enables Retirement Savings Account (RSA) holders to remotely update their personal records (recapture), without necessarily visiting their PFAs.
PENCAP targets RSA holders who joined the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) on or before 1 July 2019 and have not undergone the data recapture process. This initiative marks another key step by PenCom to enhance data integrity, improve service delivery, and modernise pension administration through responsible digitalisation.
Rationale for the Data Recapture Exercise
Accurate and up-to-date data remains fundamental to the efficient administration of retirement savings under the CPS. Over time, data inconsistencies arising from legacy records and incomplete documentation have posed challenges during verification and benefit processing.
PENCAP provides a proactive solution by offering contributors a secure and convenient channel to recapture their data. By improving the quality and reliability of contributor records across PFAs, the platform will support faster benefit processing, smoother verification exercises, and an overall improvement in service experience for RSA holders.
The Data Recapture Exercise (DRE) commenced in August 2019 for both active contributors and retirees. The DRE complies with the Federal Government’s directive that all data-generating organisations should harmonise their databases with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). It is also consistent with the need for a credible database of all RSA holders in Nigeria with the National Identification Number (NIN) as the unique identifier. In that regard, PenCom designed, developed and deployed an Enhanced Contributor Registration System (ECRS), which has been integrated with the NIMC database to authenticate the uniqueness of individuals seeking to register under the CPS and existing RSA holders who have not recaptured.
Before now, RSA holders were required to physically visit their PFAs in order to recapture. This has not achieved the needed outcome with many eligible RSA holders yet to be recaptured for over six years.
Overview of the Self-Service Process
The recapture process is fully online and requires a phone, a computer or other devices with a camera and internet access to enable live image capture. RSA holders will access the portal at https://pensionrecap.pencom.gov.ng/ and create a secure user profile using a personal email address.
Contributors will then complete the online Data Recapture Form and, where applicable, upload supporting documents to validate requested updates. The process also involves biometric verification through live facial capture and the provision of a digital signature to confirm authenticity.
Processing, Validation and Notifications
Following submission, the contributor’s PFA reviews the application and takes appropriate action within the defined processing period. Throughout this stage, RSA holders receive email notifications acknowledging receipt of their request and providing updates on approval or rejection, including reasons where applicable. This ensures transparency, accountability, and continuous communication.
The rollout of PENCAP, aims to speed up the Data recapture process which has been ongoing since the launch of the ECRS but without significant progress. By providing the self-service option, it is expected that more RSA holders will be encouraged to participate due to its convenience.
Importance of Compliance for RSA Holders
RSA holders who enrolled on or before 1 July 2019 and are yet to undergo recapture are required to take advantage of the online window to confirm and update their records. This is a necessary step to migrate their date onto the ECRS, which uniquely identifies RSA holders via their National Identification Number (NIN).
Completion of the data recapture exercise is also essential for participation in the Retiree Enrolment and Verification Exercise and for accessing key pension transactions. These include processing of retirement benefits, eligibility to utilise part of RSA balances as equity contribution for residential mortgages, withdrawal temporary job loss, and the transfer of RSAs between PFAs. Eligible RSA holders who fail to complete the data recapture will not be able to access any of the aforementioned services.
Alignment with PenCom’s Strategic Objectives
The deployment of PENCAP aligns with the PenCom’s broader commitment to innovation, transparency, and operational efficiency within Nigeria’s pension industry. By embracing technology-driven solutions, PenCom continues to enhance public confidence in the CPS and ensures seamless access to retirement benefits.
RSA holders who prefer physical recapture may still visit their PFA branches, as the self-service platform is designed to complement existing service channels.

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PenCom Pays N8.70bn Arrears To 2,116 Retirees

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The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has approved an upward review of pensions for 2,116 retirees under the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), increasing their total monthly pension payments from N12.56 million to N159.95 million, representing an increase of 1,173%.
The NSITF pension increase is yet another milestone in President Bola Tinubu’s policy of enhancing the welfare of retirees in Nigeria.
The payments were recently approved by the Director General of PenCom, Ms. Omolola Oloworaran, who continues to champion landmark reforms that have transformed the landscape of the Contributory Pension Scheme.
This marks the first pension increase for NSITF retirees in 21 years, addressing long-standing disparities and restoring the value of benefits in line with statutory provisions and prevailing economic conditions.
Additionally, as part of the enhancement, the 2,116 NSITF retirees have received N8.70 billion in pension arrears. The average arrears payment amounted to about N3 million per retiree.
In a particular instance, an NSITF retiree’s monthly pension was enhanced from about N18,000 to a whopping N206,000. In addition, the retiree was paid over N8 million as pension arrears.
The enhancement was supported by the significant growth of the NSITF Fund, which grew from N54 billion at the point of transfer in 2005 to N195 billion as of December 2025.
This growth reflects prudent fund management under the strict supervision of PenCom and provided the financial headroom necessary to implement the long-overdue review while safeguarding the Scheme’s sustainability.
The NSITF was established in 1993 as the successor to the National Provident Fund (NPF), managing pension benefits for private sector employees prior to the introduction of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) under the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2004.
Following the reform, pension assets under the defunct NSITF Scheme were transferred to Trustfund Pensions Limited, which was mandated to manage the Scheme’s assets and administer benefits to existing and deferred pensioners.
Section 39(3) of the PRA 2014, together with Section 173(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, mandates periodic pension reviews at least every five years or in line with Federal Civil Service salary reviews. Furthermore, the NSITF Benefits Payment Policy provides that the minimum retirement pension should not be less than 80% of the prevailing National Minimum Wage.
Despite these provisions, the last review of NSITF pensions occurred in 2005.
In response to this prolonged non-compliance, PenCom invoked Section 53 of the PRA 2014, which requires that benefits under the NSITF Scheme be administered in accordance with the Scheme’s governing terms. PenCom consequently directed Trustfund Pensions Limited to submit a comprehensive proposal for pension enhancement.
So far, payments have been made to verified NSITF retirees. To ease the burden associated with pension verification exercises, PenCom approved the deployment of the “VerifyMe” digital solution for automated revalidation of NSITF pensioners. This initiative eliminated the rigours of physical verification requirements and thereby improving service efficiency for the senior citizens.

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