By Helen Udo.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has disbursed ₦7.61 billion to nine Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) for the payment of retirement benefits to 4,237 retirees, reaffirming its commitment to the welfare of former personnel.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, announced the payment during a dialogue with retired Customs officers held on 14 July 2026, stating that the funds had already been released to the PFAs for direct payment into beneficiaries’ accounts.
The beneficiaries are spread across nine PFAs, with Premium Pension accounting for the highest number at 2,268 retirees, followed by Access-ARM Pension Managers with 1,223, while the remaining beneficiaries are managed by Leadway, TrustFund, FCMB, Veritas Glanvills, Norrenberger and Fidelity Pension Managers.
Adeniyi stressed that the Nigeria Customs Service must remain financially strong to meet its obligations to both serving officers and retirees, noting that the welfare of retired personnel is vital to the institution’s long-term stability and credibility.
He also emphasised the importance of sustained engagement with retirees, explaining that the dialogue was convened to address concerns, encourage transparency and reduce the spread of misinformation affecting relations between the Service and its retired personnel.
Senior Customs management, led by the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Human Resources Development, DCG Tijjani Abe, assured retirees that the issues raised during the meeting would receive due consideration at the Service’s Board and Management meetings.
The retirees commended the Comptroller-General and the Customs Management Team for creating an avenue for direct interaction and responding to their concerns. They urged the Service to institutionalise such engagements to strengthen trust and collaboration.The dialogue forms part of broader efforts to enhance pension administration and improve the welfare of retired officers, ensuring they receive their benefits promptly and efficiently.
The initiative also aligns with the Federal Government’s ongoing review of pension laws, including provisions of the Pension Reform Act 2014 and relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), aimed at strengthening pension protection and improving the welfare of retirees nationwide.
