The Federal Government has shifted the deadline for the mandatory One-Time Online Verification and Enrolment for treasury-funded MDAs to Dec. 31, 2026, after recording low turnout.
Only 31,099 of an estimated 150,000 eligible workers have completed the enrolment as at July 2026, while MDAs have uploaded just 62,320 records, far below the target, the National Pension Commission said in a statement on Tuesday.
It quoted that the exercise was initially scheduled to end on July 31, 2026.
The Commission urged all eligible employees who are yet to enrol, as well as those who have started but not completed the process, to use the additional time provided by the extension to complete their enrolment.
Commenting on exercise addresses legacy pension liabilities, PenCom explained that thrbinitiative is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to settle pension liabilities carried over from the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), which existed before the introduction of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) in 2004.
According to the Commission, under Section 15(1) of the Pension Reform Act 2014 (PRA 2014), employees who transited to the CPS are entitled to accrued pension rights, being benefits earned under the DBS.
These accrued rights, the statement said, comprise pension and gratuity benefits earned by eligible employees from their date of first appointment up to 30 June 2004. Their determination is based on an actuarial valuation process.
It said: “In a circular issued on 27 April 2026, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation had directed all treasury-funded MDAs to support the exercise and ensure that eligible employees complete the One-time Enrolment as required by PenCom. This is essential for determining the Federal Government’s outstanding pension liabilities and making adequate budgetary provisions for their settlement.”
On digital transformation drives new approach, the Commission said the One-Time enrolment exercise is fully digital and is conducted through PenCom’s Contributions and Bond Redemption Application (COBRA).
COBRA is a secure platform designed to facilitate data capture, validation and processing.
Speaking on the benefits of early enrolment, the Commission said it facilitates the determination of accrued pension rights and enables the necessary funding to be secured from the Federal Government.
It said the amounts would be credited to the employees’ Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs) well ahead of retirement, thereby earning investment returns and boosting retirement benefits.
It added: “MDAs are required to upload details of eligible employees on the COBRA platform, after which affected employees are expected to visit their respective Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) with the required documents to complete the enrolment process.
“Pension Desk Officers (PDOs), who have been trained by PenCom, coordinate the exercise within their organisations and guide employees through the process.
PenCom continues to collaborate with MDAs, PFAs and other stakeholders to improve awareness, facilitate participation and ensure that eligible employees are properly captured.”
“While the extension to 31 December 2026 provides additional time, PenCom has urged eligible employees and their respective MDAs not to delay completion of the process. All active employees of Federal Government Treasury-funded MDAs who were in service as at 30 June 2004 are covered by the accrued pension rights provisions.
“PenCom therefore calls on all eligible employees and Treasury-funded MDAs to take full advantage of the extension and complete the enrolment exercise before the new deadline.”
