By Sola Alabadan
The National Pension Commission (PenCom) approved Enbloc payment of retirement benefits to 2,024 retirees whose Retirement Savings Account (RSA) balances were N550,000.00 or below and considered insufficient to procure Programmed Withdrawal or Retiree Life Annuity of a reasonable amount for an expected life span.
In this regard, a total sum of N527.23 million was paid to the 2,024 retirees from both the public and private sectors during the second quarter of the year.
The nation’s pension regulator disclosed this in its latest quarterly report issued recently.
This is in keeping faith with the objectives of the Pension Reform Act 2014 to ensure that every person who worked in either the Public Service of the Federation, Federal Capital Territory or Private Sector receives his retirement benefits as and when due.
In a related development, the Commission also approved the payment of N4,430.37 million to 7,906 RSA holders under the age of 50 years, who were disengaged from work and unable to secure jobs within four months.
This is in accordance with section 7(2) of the Pension Act, which provides that “Where an employee voluntarily retires, disengages or is disengaged from employment as provided for under Section 16(2) and (5) of this Act, the employee may, with the approval of the Commission, withdraw an amount of money not exceeding 25 per cent of the total amount credited to his retirement savings account, provided that such withdrawals shall only be made after four months of such retirement or cessation of employment and the employee does not secure another employment.”
Meanwhile, the Commission also informed that applications were received for transfer of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) contributions on behalf of 332 NSITF contributors.
However, approval was granted to transfer N17,026,367.10 to the Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs) of 298 members.
On a similar note, PenCom approved monthly pensions in the sum of N62,327,832.97 to 3,629 NSITF pensioners.
