Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi says the payment reinforces the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to retirees’ welfare
The Nigeria Customs Service has released ₦7.61 billion to nine Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) for the payment of retirement benefits to 4,237 former officers, with the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, reaffirming the Service’s commitment to improving the welfare of its retirees.
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Adeniyi announced the Customs pension payment during a dialogue with retired Customs officers, revealing that the funds had already been transferred to the Pension Fund Administrators for onward credit into the beneficiaries’ Retirement Savings Accounts.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service.
According to the statement, the disbursement forms part of the Service’s ongoing efforts to ensure that retired personnel receive their entitlements promptly while strengthening engagement between the Customs leadership and pensioners.
“The Nigeria Customs Service has released ₦7.61 billion to nine Pension Fund Administrators for payment to 4,237 retirees, as the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to improving the welfare of its retired personnel,” the statement said.
A breakdown presented during the meeting showed that Premium Pension Limited accounted for the largest number of beneficiaries with 2,268 retirees, while Access-ARM Pension Managers handled 1,223 beneficiaries.
Other Pension Fund Administrators included Leadway Pensions with 403 retirees, Trustfund Pensions with 156, FCMB Pensions with 144, Veritas Glanvills Pensions with 28, Norrenberger Pensions with 11, and Fidelity Pension Managers with four beneficiaries, bringing the total number covered under the latest disbursement to 4,237.
Addressing the retirees, Adeniyi said the long-term strength of the Nigeria Customs Service depends on its ability to meet its obligations to both serving and retired personnel.
“The Service must remain strong and financially capable of meeting its obligations to serving officers and retirees.
The welfare of officers who have dedicated decades of their lives to the Nigeria Customs Service cannot be separated from the future of this institution.
We are committed to ensuring that our retirees receive the attention and support they deserve,” he said.
The Comptroller-General also urged former officers to maintain direct communication with the Service rather than relying on unofficial sources of information.
“I acknowledged your concerns and suggestions raised, and it is in view of this that 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 added.
He noted that regular engagement between the Customs management and retirees would help address concerns more effectively while promoting trust, transparency and mutual understanding.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Human Resources Development, DCG Tijjani Abe, alongside members of the Customs Management Team.
Senior officials assured the retirees that issues raised during the dialogue would receive due consideration at both Board and Management meetings as part of the Service’s robust commitment to improving the welfare of former personnel.
Speaking on behalf of the pensioners, the retirees commended Adeniyi and the Customs management for creating a platform that enabled direct interaction with the leadership of the Service.
They described the dialogue as timely and called for such engagements to become a regular feature, saying sustained communication would strengthen relationships between serving officers and retirees while helping to resolve emerging welfare concerns.
The latest pension disbursement comes as the Federal Government pursues broader reforms aimed at strengthening pension administration across the public service.
Authorities are currently reviewing statutory provisions governing pensions, including Section 15(4) of the Pension Reform Act 2014, to align them with Section 173(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees the periodic review of pensions in line with prevailing economic conditions.
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The proposed reforms are expected to enhance the financial security of retired public servants, including former Nigeria Customs Service personnel, while addressing longstanding concerns over pension administration and the timely payment of retirement benefits.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
