The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has released N7.61 billion to nine Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) for the settlement of retirement benefits owed to 4,237 former personnel, reaffirming its commitment to the welfare of retired officers.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, disclosed the development during an interactive session with retirees, aimed at addressing concerns and strengthening communication between the service and its former workforce.
According to a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada, the funds have already been transferred to the respective PFAs for onward crediting into the individual Retirement Savings Accounts of the beneficiaries.
Maiwada said the engagement formed part of ongoing efforts by the Customs Service to improve pension administration and ensure retirees benefit from recent reforms introduced by the Federal Government.
He noted that the initiative aligns with the government’s review of pension-related provisions, particularly Section 15(4) of the Pension Reform Act 2014 and Section 173(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which seek to enhance pension benefits for retirees.
A breakdown of the beneficiaries showed that Access-ARM Pension Managers received allocations for 1,223 retirees, while Premium Pension accounted for the largest share with 2,268 beneficiaries. Leadway Pensions had 403 beneficiaries, TrustFund Pensions 156, and FCMB Pensions 144.
Other PFAs involved in the disbursement include Veritas Glanvills Pensions with 28 beneficiaries, Norrenberger Pensions with 11, and Fidelity Pension Managers with four retirees, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 4,237.
Speaking during the dialogue, Adeniyi stressed the importance of maintaining a financially stable and efficient Customs Service capable of fulfilling its obligations to both active and retired personnel.
He described the welfare of retired officers as a critical responsibility, noting that those who devoted years of service to the institution deserved continued support and recognition.
The Customs boss also encouraged retirees to maintain open and constructive communication with the service, saying regular engagement would help address concerns and eliminate misinformation.
“We recognise the issues and suggestions raised by our retirees, which informed the decision to convene this dialogue. The objective is to deepen understanding, strengthen trust, and minimise the impact of rumours and unofficial information on the relationship between the service and its retired personnel,” Adeniyi said.
Retirees who attended the meeting commended the Comptroller-General and the Customs management for creating a platform for direct interaction and transparency.
They called for the engagement to become a regular feature, describing it as a valuable step toward fostering stronger ties between serving officers and retired personnel while promoting confidence in the pension administration process.
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