AN EVALUATION OF PENSION FUND ADMINISTRATION IN NIGERIA (A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PREMIUM PENSION LTD & SIGMA PENSION FUND LTD)

ABSTRACT

The research work evaluates pension fund  administration in Nigeria “a comparative analysis of Premium Pension Ltd and Sigma Pension Ltd as a case study. Key problems facing pension scheme in Nigeria was identified with an overview of the scheme. Primary data were generated from direct observation and interviews granted. Secondary data on the other hand were obtained from official publications, national dailies, documentations and internet materials. The analyses confirm that regular upward reviews of pensions and gratuities in the country without appropriate strategies for financing the scheme has become a major problem, which calls for immediate solution in other to alleviate the suffering and hardship of retirees in the country. The research work recommends that the Nigerian government should encourage the option of having the banks where the salary accounts of employees are domiciled to make pension deductions on monthly basis and have it remitted to the concerned body (PFAs),the need for public enlightenment on the merit of the new contributory pension scheme, the 2004 Pension Reform Act should make provision for Nigerians in Diaspora who may want to contribute to the retirement saving scheme and the government should punish those who steal pensioners funds to serve as deterrent to others. The research conclude that a well organized structure that will ensure prompt payment of retirees and pensioners is highly desirable and this must be vigorously pursued by the government.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1      BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The purpose of occupational pension scheme is to provide employees regular and stable income after their retirement from service. It is an arrangement an employer or a group of employers use(s) to provide pension (and sometimes other) benefits for their employees when they leave or retire. They also provide benefits to the employee’s dependant if the employee dies. This scheme  is  usually funded  by contributions from just  the  employer,  or  from both the employer and the employee. A good pension scheme does not only serve as an incentive to employees but helps to attract and retain experienced staff.

The first pension legislation in Nigeria was enacted in 1951 by the British colonial administration, referred to as the Pension Ordinance, with retrospective effect from 1st January, 1946. The pension which was initially designed for colonial officers who were moved from post to  post  in the  vast  British Empire was to  ensure their continuity of service wherever and whenever they were deployed to serve the colonial administration. When the law eventually became applicable to Nigerians, the application was at the discretion of the Governor – General. Pension was therefore not a right for Nigerians under the Ordinance. To redress this, a new Pensions Act was enacted in 1979 referred to as the Pensions Act No. 102 of 1979; retroactively effective from 1st April, 1974. The Act consolidated all enactments on pensions and incorporated pensions and gratuity scales designed for public officers by the Udoji Public Service Review Commission in 1974. It also became the basic pension law from which other pensions laws in Nigeria emerged. These laws include:

      Armed Forces Pensions Act  No. 103 of 1979. The  Act  consolidated all enactments dealing with pension benefits and gratuity scales for the Armed Forces.

    Pension Rights of Judges Decree No. 5 of 1985.

    Amendment Acts Nos. 51 of 1988; 29 of 1991; and 62 of 1991.

    The New Pension Reform Act 2004 (Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette No. 60 Lagos – 30th June 2004 Vol.91)

1.2      STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The management of pension scheme in Nigeria is inundated by multiple and diverse problems. One key problem is the lack of adequate funding. Government parastatals and institutions have not succeeded in setting aside the recommended amount for pension scheme from the total emolument of their employees for lack of funds.  Another dimension of the problem is that, retirees find it difficult to collect their pension gratuity as at when due after retirement.

In view of the above, this research work seek to evaluate pension fund administration in Nigeria and make possible recommendations that will enhance efficiency in the administration of pension fund in Nigeria.

1.3      OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The objective of this study is to evaluate pension fund administration in Nigeria. Other objectives include the following;

i.    To ascertain if employers of labour (public and private employers) do fund the pension scheme in Nigeria.

ii.  To ascertain if the management staff of pension fund administrators are well trained and qualified to manage pension fund in Nigeria.

iii. To ascertain the level of compliance with the requirement of completing clearance forms with various units or institution so as to verify their indebtedness.

iv.  To  ascertain  the  extent  to  which  the  new  pension  contributory  scheme  meets  the expectation of the retirees.

v.   To ascertain the extent of efficiency in record keeping by pension fund administrators in Nigeria.

1.4       RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The research questions in this work include the following:

1.  To what extent do employers of labour fund pension scheme fund in Nigeria?

2.  To what extent are the management staffs of pension fund administrators qualify and competent to manage pension fund in Nigeria?

3.  To what extent does retiree complete set of clearance form with the various units or institutions and submitted to pension office for processing before retirement?

4.  To what extent does the new pension contributory scheme meets the expectation of the retirees?

5.  To what extent does Pension Fund administration keep records of retirees?

1.5      RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

The research hypothesis used in this research work includes the following:

1.  HO:      Retirement Saving Account (RSA) of employees is not funded by employers of labour under the new pension contributory scheme.

HA: Retirement Saving Account (RSA) of employees is always funded by employers of labour under the new pension contributory scheme.

2.  HO:      Management  staffs  of  pension  fund  administrators  are  not  qualified  and competent to manage pension fund in Nigeria.

HA:      Management staffs of pension fund administrators are qualified and competent to manage pension fund in Nigeria.

3.  HO:      Retirees don’t comply with the requirement of completing clearance forms with various units or institution and submitted to pension office for processing before retirement.

HA:      Retirees do comply with the requirement of completing clearance forms with various units or institutions and submitted to pension office for processing before retirement.

4.  HO:      The  new  pension contributory scheme does  not  meet  the  expectation of the retirees in Nigeria.

HA:      The new pension contributory scheme meets the expectation of the retirees in Nigeria.

5.  HO:      Records  of retirees  are  not  properly kept  by pension  fund  administrators in Nigeria.

HA:      Records of retirees are properly kept by pension fund administrators in Nigeria.

1.6      SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This research work  is  limited  to the  evaluation of pension fund  administration and comparative analysis of two pension fund administrators in Nigeria using Premium Pension Ltd and Sigma Pension Ltd as a case study.

1.7      SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This work shall be of great benefit to the National Pension Commission as it will enable the Commission to review and update it existing guidelines on payment of retirees benefits and gratuity after retirement from active service.

Pension fund administrators in Nigeria will also find this report dispensable as the report will  enhance  efficiency  in  the  operation  of pension  fund  administration  in  Nigeria.  Other researchers will find the work useful as it is a base for future research work.

Finally it will also contribute positively to the field of knowledge, especially the field which this research is directed.

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