James Emejo in Abuja
Director General, National Pension Commission (PenCom), Ms Omolola Oloworaran, Wednesday revealed that the fee will unveil a healthcare programme for retirees subsequent month.
The transfer is a part of efforts to scale back medical bills that erode pension earnings and undermine the monetary safety of senior residents.
She spoke on the Senior Citizens Fair, with the theme, “Pension for All: Building a Secure Future Together,”
in Abuja, held as a part of actions marking National Pension Week 2026.
She stated the PenCare initiative was present process a pilot part forward of its nationwide implementation, with the programme designed to enhance retirees’ entry to healthcare and tackle considerations over the rising price of medical companies.
The initiative is predicted to assist pensioners handle healthcare bills after retirement, when restricted and infrequently fastened incomes go away many susceptible to rising dwelling prices and surprising medical payments.
Oloworaran stated the fee was dedicated to integrating healthcare into retirement safety, stressing that Nigerians who had spent years in private and non-private service deserved to dwell with dignity with out struggling to afford important medical remedy.
She defined that the formal inauguration, initially scheduled to maintain right now had been postponed due to scheduling constraints.
The well being iniatiative seeks to tackle a essential dimension of retirement safety, as healthcare bills can rapidly eat pension funds and go away retirees with fewer assets for meals, housing and different fundamental wants.
Beyond healthcare entry, the PenCom DG recognized disparities in pension funds amongst retirees in related circumstances as one other concern requiring pressing consideration from the related authorities.
She stated the fee would proceed to strengthen the insurance policies, legal guidelines and rules governing pension administration to defend beneficiaries and enhance retirement outcomes.
Oloworaran additionally urged retirees to present suggestions on their experiences with the pension system, noting that such engagement would assist the fee establish service gaps and develop extra responsive insurance policies.
She reaffirmed PenCom’s dedication to working with labour unions and different stakeholders to resolve pension-related considerations and enhance service supply.
Speaking on the occasion, PenCom’s Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Charles Efe-Emukowhate, stated healthcare help would assist retirees protect extra of their pension earnings for different important bills.
He recommended President Bola Tinubu for approving the settlement of ₦758 billion in inherited pension liabilities, describing the transfer as a major dedication in direction of addressing excellent pension obligations.
Emukowhate additionally assured pensioners that the fee would maintain regulatory oversight of the pension business, defend retirement financial savings and be sure that beneficiaries obtained their entitlements as and when due.
He, nonetheless, warned retirees towards fraudsters providing unrealistic funding returns, notably schemes promising to double their financial savings.
He suggested pensioners to confirm unsolicited funding proposals with PenCom or their Pension Fund Administrators earlier than committing their funds, warning that retirees might lose their financial savings to fraudulent operators.
Meanwhile, Consultant Geriatrician and Founder of JBS Gerontology Centre, Dr. Olutoyin Akande-Ajala, urged retirees to undertake wholesome ageing practices to protect their independence and high quality of life.
Speaking nearly on the honest, she defined that wholesome ageing didn’t essentially imply dwelling with out sickness however managing medical situations successfully whereas retaining the power to carry out on a regular basis actions.
She suggested older individuals to train recurrently, eat balanced diets, endure routine medical examinations, monitor their blood stress and blood sugar ranges, and cling to prescribed drugs.
Akande-Ajala additionally urged retirees to search immediate medical consideration for persistent signs, together with recurrent falls, unexplained weight reduction, worsening reminiscence and extended fatigue, reasonably than dismissing them as inevitable penalties of ageing.
She emphasised the significance of sustaining social relationships, partaking in mentally stimulating actions and searching for acceptable help for melancholy, loneliness and important reminiscence adjustments.
The geriatrician additional urged households to respect older individuals’ independence and contain them in selections affecting their well being and welfare.
The Senior Citizens Fair introduced collectively retirees, pension beneficiaries, pension professionals and different stakeholders to focus on healthcare entry, monetary safety and methods for enhancing retirement outcomes.
The occasion featured wellness actions, well being screenings and pension data classes, together with data on PenCare and the method of registering for medical health insurance.
The honest shaped a part of PenCom’s broader efforts to promote retirement safety and enhance the welfare of pensioners.
