Nigeria Pension Assets Rise to N28.03tn as FGN Securities Dominate Investments
Nigeria’s pension industry recorded a strong start to 2026 as total pension assets rose by N580 billion in January, highlighting growing confidence in the country’s retirement savings system. The increase represents a 2.2 percent growth, pushing the total value of pension funds from N27.45 trillion in December 2025 to N28.03 trillion, according to the latest monthly report from the National Pension Commission.
The report also revealed a notable expansion in participation within the Contributory Pension Scheme, as about 400,000 new workers from both the public and private sectors enrolled in January. This surge raised the total number of Retirement Savings Account holders to approximately 11.08 million, signaling wider acceptance of the pension program among Nigerian employers and employees.
Investment data from the report shows that pension fund administrators continue to favor relatively stable and secure assets, particularly government-backed instruments. Securities issued by the Federal Government of Nigeria accounted for roughly 60 percent of the entire pension portfolio. Out of the N28.03 trillion assets, FGN securities alone held N16.6 trillion, including N15.6 trillion in bonds and N894 billion in treasury bills. Other investments included N2.75 trillion in money market instruments and N2.23 trillion in corporate debt securities.
Industry experts say the increase in pension assets was driven by a mix of factors, including new contributions from workers, interest earnings from fixed-income investments, and profits realized from equities and mutual funds. The steady inflow of contributors and the consistent returns on investments have helped the sector maintain strong growth, even as some state governments continue to struggle with delays in remitting pension contributions.
Despite the encouraging figures, the Director-General of the National Pension Commission, Omolola Oloworaran, noted that challenges still exist within the system. She explained that rising inflation continues to weaken the purchasing power of retirees, while delays in the payment of accrued rights remain a concern. According to her, the commission is working closely with the Federal Government of Nigeria to develop sustainable solutions that will ensure retirees receive their benefits promptly and with less administrative stress, reinforcing the pension sector’s role as a key pillar of Nigeria’s financial stability in 2026.
source: punch