The National Pension Commission (PenCom) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Lagos Council have joined hands to begin enforcement against pension defaulters under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
The NLC Lagos Council Chairperson, Funmi Sesi, disclosed this after an interactive session organised by PenCom in Lagos, said the enforcement would commence on June 1, 2026.
The session focused on the workings of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and sensitized labour leaders on pension compliance obligations under the Pension Reform Act.
Sesi condemned the continued failure of some government agencies and private employers to remit deducted pension contributions to Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).
“It is unacceptable that in spite of monthly deductions from workers’ salaries, some employers deliberately fail to remit the funds,” she said.
She warned that the practice endangered workers’ future and undermined their economic security after retirement, stressing that “the non-remittance of pension contributions constitutes a gross violation of labour laws and abuse of workers’ trust.”
She described pension as a fundamental workers’ right, stressing that employees deserved to retire with dignity after years of productive service.
According to her, NLC and PenCom had received growing complaints from affected workers across public and private establishments in Lagos.
Sesi said the complaints prompted immediate monitoring and enforcement efforts in collaboration with PenCom and other relevant stakeholders.
She warned that the congress would mobilize affiliate unions against employers refusing to comply with pension remittance obligations.
According to her, “If we need to purchase locks and keys just to ensure compliance and enforcement, we will apply that, adding that “we are the voice for the voiceless, the power for workers and the last hope of workers and pensioners.”
She further warned that defaulting employers risked public exposure and possible legal action for violating pension regulations.
Sesi urged employers to comply fully with pension laws to promote industrial harmony, social justice and national development.
Also speaking, PenCom Director-General, Omolola Oloworaran, said the Contributory Pension Scheme guaranteed financial security for workers after retirement.
Oloworaran, represented by Mr Ahmed Lawan, Head of Compliance and Enforcement Department, said retirees previously suffered severe hardship and delayed pension payments.
She noted that the CPS had improved pension administration but accused some employers of frustrating the scheme through non-remittance of deductions. Oloworaran warned ministries, departments, agencies, parastatals and private firms against denying workers their pension rights.
She stressed that retirement should not become painful after years of dedicated public and private service. “Deducting workers’ pension contributions without remitting them is a criminal offence under the pension law,” she warned.
The PenCom chief encouraged affected workers to report defaulting organisations to the NLC for investigation and enforcement. She assured workers that identities of whistleblowers would remain protected where necessary during enforcement operations.
Oloworaran announced that PenCom and NLC would begin joint monitoring and enforcement exercises across Lagos from June, adding that “We will go after organisations involved in non-remittance of workers’ pension deductions in Lagos State.”
She urged workers to cooperate by providing useful information to strengthen compliance efforts and protect employees’ retirement savings. The NLC inaugurated a committee of task force commanders from affiliate unions to support enforcement operations statewide.
FG Seeks Stronger Measurement to Boost Industrial Growth
The federal government has called for stronger measurement standards and quality infrastructure to support industrial growth, consumer protection and global competitiveness.
The Director-General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, made the call at an event organised to commemorate the 2026 World Metrology Day in Abuja on Wednesday, said that accurate measurement remained critical to industrial production, international trade, healthcare delivery, environmental sustainability and economic development.
Okeke who explained that metrology is the science of measurement, plays key role in ensuring fairness, precision and confidence in products and services across different sectors.
According to him, effective policymaking and industrial development depends on reliable data, verifiable standards and accurate measurements.
“In this rapidly evolving world, governments, industries and consumers rely on trusted measurement systems to make informed decisions, protect public interest and support national development. Without accurate measurements, industries cannot guarantee quality, consumers cannot trust products and businesses cannot compete effectively in the global market,” he said.
The SON chief executive officer said the organization had continued to strengthen Nigeria’s national measurement system through investments in laboratories, calibration services and quality assurance infrastructure. He said the agency had expanded its operations across the country to improve access to testing and calibration services for industries and businesses.
Okeke said that Nigeria’s measurement system must align with international standards to enable local products gain wider acceptance in global markets. He added that SON was collaborating with international metrology institutions and development partners to improve technical capacity and enhance service delivery.
According to him, accurate measurements are essential in sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, energy and digital technology. He explained that inaccurate measurements could lead to unfair trade practices, reduced consumer confidence and poor product quality.
The SON DG, therefore urged industries and businesses to invest more in proper calibration, quality control systems and conformity assessment processes. He said such investments would improve productivity, reduce waste and enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian products locally and internationally.
Okeke also called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, manufacturers, laboratories, academia and development partners to deepen awareness on metrology and quality assurance.
He reaffirmed SON’s commitment to promoting accurate measurements, evidence-based regulation and international best practices to support Nigeria’s industrialization agenda.
Representing the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr Adeyemi Folorunso emphasized the importance of metrology to manufacturers as it is very critical in product quality determination, market acceptance and competitiveness.
Folorunso commended SON for maintaining a balance between regulation and collaboration with industries, adding that “accurate measurements and standards would help Nigerian manufacturers compete effectively in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) market.
“We are grateful that SON remains a regulatory agency that also works with industries without compromising standards,” he said.
Similarly, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) said accurate measurement was critical to weather forecasting and climate monitoring.
The NiMet Director-General, Prof. Charles Anosike, represented by Mr Usman Abdulrahman, said the agency relied on precise measurements of temperature, pressure, wind speed and direction to generate reliable weather products.
He said NiMet’s aeronautical meteorological services had been certified to ISO 9001:2015 standards to ensure quality service delivery.
Abdulrahman also sought stronger collaboration with SON in establishing calibration laboratories and improving measurement systems in Nigeria.
Representing calibration service providers, Mr Johnson Friday of Solid Genon Services International Limited, said many industries still lacked adequate understanding of the importance of calibration and traceability.
Friday said that calibration was particularly important in healthcare, food processing, oil and gas, and manufacturing industries where safety and product quality were critical.
He, however, identified inadequate measurement standards and limited calibration infrastructure as major challenges facing the sector.
“We need more primary standards in Nigeria so that industries will not continue depending on foreign facilities for calibration services,” he said.
The World Metrology Day is celebrated annually to raise awareness on the importance of measurement science in everyday life, industry and economic development.