The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has extended the deadline for the ongoing mandatory online pension verification and enrolment exercise for eligible Federal Government workers to December 31, 2026, after only 21 percent of an estimated 150,000 eligible civil servants completed the process as of July.
The exercise, which commenced in February 2026 and was initially scheduled to close on July 31, covers employees of treasury-funded Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) who are entitled to accrued pension rights under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).
PenCom in a statement said the extension followed several requests from MDAs for additional time to enable eligible employees participate in and complete the online enrolment process.
As of July 2026, treasury-funded MDAs had uploaded records of 62,320 active employees and retirees on PenCom’s platform, but only 31,099 employees had successfully completed the enrolment process.
According to the commission, the figure represents just about 21 percent of an estimated 150,000 active Federal Government employees entitled to accrued pension rights, highlighting the low participation that prompted the extension.
PenCom is therefore urging eligible employees who have not commenced the process, as well as those who started but have not completed it, to take advantage of the additional time and conclude their enrolment before the new deadline.
The exercise is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to determine and settle pension liabilities inherited from the Defined Benefit Scheme, which preceded the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) introduced in 2004.
Under Section 15(1) of the Pension Reform Act 2014, employees who transitioned to the CPS are entitled to accrued pension rights representing benefits earned under the former scheme.
The accrued rights comprise pension and gratuity benefits earned by eligible employees from their date of first appointment up to June 30, 2004, with the benefits determined through an actuarial valuation process.
PenCom said completing the enrolment is important to enable the Federal Government accurately determine its outstanding pension liabilities and make appropriate budgetary provisions for their settlement.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation had, in a circular dated April 27, 2026, directed all treasury-funded MDAs to support the exercise and ensure that eligible employees completed the one-time enrolment process.
The exercise is being conducted entirely online through PenCom’s Contributions and Bond Redemption Application (COBRA), a digital platform designed for data capture, validation and processing.
According to PenCom, early completion of the process will facilitate the determination of accrued pension rights and enable the necessary funding to be secured from the Federal Government.
The commission said once the required funds are secured, the determined amounts would be credited to the affected employees’ Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs) ahead of retirement, allowing the funds to earn investment returns and potentially increase their retirement benefits.
Under the process, MDAs are required to upload the details of eligible employees on the COBRA platform, after which employees are expected to approach their respective Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) with the required documents to complete the enrolment.
Pension Desk Officers (PDOs), who have been trained by PenCom, are responsible for coordinating the exercise within their respective organisations and guiding employees through the process.
PenCom said it would continue to work with MDAs, PFAs and other stakeholders to improve awareness and participation and ensure that eligible employees are properly captured.
The commission urged all active employees of Federal Government treasury-funded MDAs who were in service as of June 30, 2004, and are yet to complete the exercise to use the extension and conclude their enrolment before December 31, 2026.
It also called on the affected MDAs to ensure that eligible employees are uploaded and supported to complete the process within the revised deadline.
