By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has released N7.61 billion to nine Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) for the payment of retirement benefits to 4,237 retired officers, in a move aimed at ensuring prompt pension disbursement and reinforcing the welfare of former personnel.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, announced the development on Tuesday during a dialogue with retired officers, where he reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to improving the welfare of its retirees.
He disclosed that the funds had already been transferred to the respective Pension Fund Administrators for onward payment into the individual accounts of beneficiaries.
A breakdown presented at the meeting showed that Access-ARM Pension Managers received funds for 1,223 retirees, Premium Pension for 2,268 beneficiaries, Leadway Pensions for 403, TrustFund Pensions for 156, FCMB Pensions for 144, Veritas Glanvills Pensions for 28, Norrenberger Pensions for 11, and Fidelity Pension Managers for four retirees, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 4,237.
Speaking during the engagement, Adeniyi stressed that the Nigeria Customs Service must remain financially strong to meet its obligations to both serving officers and retirees.
He noted that the welfare of retired personnel, many of whom dedicated decades of service to the nation, remains critical to the future and stability of the institution.
The Customs boss also called for sustained engagement between the Service and its retirees to foster transparency and strengthen mutual understanding.
“I acknowledged your concerns and suggestions raised, and it is in view of this we called for this dialogue to promote better understanding and reduce the effect of rumours and unofficial information on the relationship between the Service and its retired personnel,” Adeniyi said.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Human Resources Development, DCG Tijjani Abe, alongside other members of the Customs Management Team, who assured retirees that issues raised would receive due consideration at both Board and Management meetings.
In their response, the retirees commended the Comptroller-General and the Customs leadership for creating a platform for direct interaction and addressing their concerns. They urged the Service to institutionalise the dialogue as part of efforts to strengthen ties between serving and retired officers.
The latest intervention comes as the Federal Government continues efforts to enhance pension administration through ongoing reviews of relevant statutory provisions, including Section 15(4) of the Pension Reform Act 2014, in line with Section 173(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), to improve the welfare of pensioners nationwide.
