NEWS
Pension Reforms Scheme Targets More Nigerians, says PenCom DG
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Director-General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Omolola Oloworaran, says the commission’s ongoing Pension 2.0 reforms will remove barriers to pension and financial inclusion while improving customer service and public confidence in Nigeria’s pension system.
Oloworaran stated this in Abuja at PenCom’s 2026 Customer Service Week seminar, themed, “Extra Mile.
”She said the reforms were anchored on three key principles such as innovation, inclusion and integrity aimed at making pension services more efficient and responsive to contributors, retirees, employers and other stakeholders.
According to her, the theme of the celebration reflected PenCom’s commitment to ensuring that Nigerian workers across the public, private and informal sectors can look forward to secure and dignified retirement.
She said the commission’s approach to pension administration recognised that every regulation and reform ultimately affected people who had entrusted their retirement savings to the system.
“Our duty is to justify that trust through efficiency, transparency and responsiveness to those we serve,” she said.
Under Pension 2.0, PenCom has introduced several regulatory initiatives aimed at expanding participation in the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
One of the initiatives is the Guideline on the Administration of Retirement Savings Accounts in Foreign Currency, which provides a framework for Nigerians working for foreign companies and those living and working abroad to participate in the pension scheme.
Oloworaran said the initiative would make the pension system more responsive to the realities of an increasingly global workforce and create greater opportunities for Nigerians in the diaspora to participate in the scheme.
The commission has also introduced the Guideline on the Personal Pension Plan (PPP), targeting self-employed Nigerians and workers in the informal sector who have traditionally remained outside the formal pension system.
According to the PenCom DG, the plan is designed to remove barriers that have limited pension coverage and enable more Nigerians to build retirement savings regardless of their occupation or income level.
“The Personal Pension Plan embodies the spirit of ‘Mission Possible’ as it breaks long-standing barriers to financial inclusion and ensures that every Nigerian, regardless of income or occupation, can build a secure retirement,” she said.
To further expand access to the scheme, PenCom has developed a framework for engaging accredited pension agents to market and sell the Personal Pension Plan across the country.
The commission has also introduced revised corporate governance guidelines for licensed pension fund operators to strengthen accountability, transparency and ethical standards in the industry.
Oloworaran said the recapitalisation requirement for licensed pension fund operators was another major measure aimed at strengthening the financial capacity and resilience of the pension industry.
She explained that stronger capitalisation would help protect pension assets while improving the stability, efficiency and competitiveness of pension operators.
The PenCom boss said the reforms went beyond regulatory changes, stressing that they were also focused on improving the experience of contributors and retirees.
“Pension 2.0 is not merely about reform; it is about transforming the customer experience,” she said.
She added that the commission would continue to ensure that contributors could access their Retirement Savings Accounts seamlessly and promptly, while employers would have simpler and more transparent compliance processes.
Oloworaran further pledged that PenCom would strengthen its customer service culture, improve communication with stakeholders and enhance the digital platforms through which contributors and retirees interact with the pension system.
She described effective service delivery as critical to maintaining public confidence in pension administration and commended pension operators, employers, the media, government agencies and the public for their continued cooperation.
“Together, we are proving that with collaboration, innovation and commitment, the mission of delivering a sustainable and customer-focused pension system in Nigeria is not just possible; it is achievable,” she added.
NEWS
They Planted Juju in my Jacket at Davido’s House – Peruzzi
Singer Peruzzi has narrated how a charm was planted in his jacket during his stay at Davido’s house.
Peruzzi was signed to Davido’s record label, DMW, in 2017.
Davido dissolved the label in April 2024.
However, discussing his experience during his stay at Davido’s house, Peruzzi narrated how a charm was planted in his jacket.
Speaking in a video interview online, he said, “I took a shower one evening, like at 6 pm. Just a shower and then went to go and meet them back downstairs because I was chilling there before I went upstairs in David house when I was still living there.
“And then I was done taking the shower. I go to my wardrobe to get my clothes, and then one of my jackets is just telling me, ‘Pull me, wear me, wear me, wear me.’ I don’t know how to explain it, but I was just having the urge to wear it.”So, I carry am (the jacket), and something just dropped inside, and when I looked, it was jaz, better juju inside my room. A jacket that just came from the laundry.”
NEWS
AFSNET Business Conference Kicks off in Calabar
From Ene Asuquo, Calabar
The 6th African sub – sovereign Governments Network Investment Conference has started in Calabar the cross river state capital as Afreximbank opens a $2 billion tap for Cross River State and other African sub-sovereign governments for the financing of bankable projects that can turn around their economies.
Making the disclosure in Calabar in a press briefing, The Director, Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion, Afreximbank, Dr.
Gainmore Zanamwe, said the 6th African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network Investment Conference (AfSNET 2026) is going to be a three day event, running from Thursday 12th to Saturday 14th November, 2026.Dr Zanamwe stated that, the Bank has the facility ready to finance. According to him, “Some people say funding is a problem. From Africa we say no. The $2 billion is there,” Zanamwe said. “Go and tell your people. You people in the media, go and tell people that money is there,” stressing that the bank is fully prepared to spend the next three days, November 12, 13 and 14, in Calabar enlightening states on how to access the fund. “How do you then access the funding? He asked.
“That is what we’ll be telling everybody in the course of the next three days. We’ll be showing you how you can tap into the $2 billion to do your projects. We’ll make it very simple.” He maintained.
Zanamwe stated that only states that present properly packaged, bankable projects will benefit. “We’ll start tomorrow with a training on how to identify projects in your states. Some normally start by saying there’s a project in this, they then run to the investors. It doesn’t work that way. We’ll be breaking it down,” he said.
“We would like, under the leadership of your Governor, to be able to start from the vision and say this is the vision in terms of promoting trade investment in your states. Once you start from that big vision, you cannot do everything. You need to focus. Identify two or three sectors that you really need to focus on and promote,” he added.
He explained that capital can be raised in two ways: by preparing a project and making it bankable for financial institutions like Afreximbank, or by preparing a pitch deck to generate interest from potential investors.
He also promoted Africa Direct Investment, saying an investor from Lagos or South Africa can as well enjoy the same privileges and incentives given to an investor from America.
He stressed that governors will pitch their projects on November 13 and 14, adding that in the last five years, the initiative has facilitated opportunities worth more than $3 billion, trained over 2,000 people, and worked with 21 African countries.
Also speaking on behalf of Governor Bassey Otu, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Pastor Ekpenyong Cobham, welcomed investors to the state.
“With Cross River State’s agrarian economy being rejuvenated by this administration, for the first time a very deliberate attempt is being taken to be able to make sure that our diverse products are being properly processed to meet international standards,” Cobham said.
NEWS
RMAFC Advocates Fair Share of 13 Per Cent Revenue Derivation Among Oil Producing States
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has advocated a fair distribution of the 13 per cent derivation revenue among states that produce oil and gas.
The Chairman of the commission, Mohammed Shehu, made the appeal on Thursday in Owerri during the inauguration of an oil and gas wells verification exercise.
Shehu explained that the commission’s constitutional responsibilities under the 1999 Constitution, as amended, include monitoring revenue generated into and disbursed from the Federation Account, including funds allocated under the 13 per cent derivation arrangement.
He said the exercise would focus on identifying and confirming the geographical coordinates of disputed oil and gas wells, alongside newly drilled wells between 2017 and 2026.
According to him, an Inter-Agency Technical Committee established for the assignment would carry out physical inspections of the affected wells, verify their locations and ensure that their coordinates were accurately recorded using officially approved maps.
He added that the committee would also take relevant court judgments into consideration when addressing disputes involving oil and gas well locations.
Shehu said the committee would forward its technical findings directly to the commission for review, ratification and eventual adoption.
He described the verification exercise as essential to ensuring that revenue allocations from the Federation Account are accurate and fairly distributed, explaining that the geographical positions of oil and gas wells determine the financial entitlements of producing states.
“This exercise represents a crucial phase in establishing statutory accuracy, technical fidelity, and fiscal equity within the Federation Account allocation framework,” he said.
He further explained that the precise coordinates and geographical positions of oil and gas wells have direct implications for the legal and financial rights of the respective states.
The RMAFC chairman urged officials participating in the exercise to adhere strictly to professional surveying procedures, recognised maps and relevant legal requirements in carrying out their assignments.
He reiterated that the technical committee’s report would be submitted solely to the commission for administrative review and formal approval.


