The National Pension Commission has launched a recovery effort to secure over N1.3 billion in unpaid pension contributions owed to journalists by newspaper organizations across Nigeria, according to PenCom Director-General, Ms. Omolola Oloworaran.
Speaking during a visit to the Nigerian Press Council in Abuja, Oloworaran highlighted widespread non-compliance with the Pension Reform Act 2014 (PRA 2014) among media establishments.
Many have failed to remit mandatory pension deductions to employees’ Retirement Savings Accounts, prompting PenCom’s intervention.
“The media must lead by example. Journalists deserve to retire with dignity,” Oloworaran stated.
She emphasized that pension contributions are both a legal obligation under the Pension Reform Act 2014 and a moral duty that employers must not neglect.
According to her, under the PRA 2014, employers are required by law to remit monthly pension contributions no later than seven (7) days after paying employees’ salaries. Failure to comply can result in penalties, including fines and potential legal action.
However, the PenCom DG revealed that many media houses are in gross violation of this law.
In a decisive move to tackle non-compliance, the PenCom has deployed Recovery Agents to audit employers’ records, identify outstanding pension liabilities, and enforce penalties on defaulters.
PenCom and the Nigerian Press Council have formed a special working group to ensure compliance within journalism institutions.
This marks the first targeted enforcement initiative for the media industry, emphasizing transparency and accountability.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Press Council, Dr Dili Ezughah, pledged full support, vowing to rally key stakeholders, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists and the Nigerian Guild of Editors, to confront the issue head-on.
“This is not just about policy, it’s about the welfare and future of journalists in this country,” Ezughah said. “The development signals a turning point in the effort to secure the financial security of Nigerian journalists, many of whom face uncertainty in retirement due to employers’ negligence.”
