Yemisi Izuora
The National Pension Commission (PenCom) is starting a nationwide pre-retirement enrolment exercise for retiring employees of Federal Government Treasury Funded Ministries, Departments and Agencies for the purpose of payment of retirement benefits.
The exercise is intended for employees in the service of the Federal Government Treasury funded MDAs who are due to retire between January and December 2018 by virtue of attaining 60 years of age or 35 years of service whichever is earlier and 65 years or 70 years of age for employees of tertiary institutions. The enrolment exercise also involves those who have already retired but are yet to be enrolled.
Employees who are thus due for retirement under the categories mentioned above are requested to attend the enrolment exercise with the originals and photocopies of their letter of Appointment, Transfer and Acceptance of Service (Where applicable), as well as originals and photocopies of their Birth Certificate or Declaration of Age.
Other documents required for the exercise include originals and photocopies of promotion letters and pay slips including grade levels and step as at 30 June, 2004, grade level and step as at January, 2007, grade level and step as at July, 2010, grade level and step as at December 2013 as well as promotion letter and pay slip indicating current grade level and step. Furthermore, the participants at this exercise, are to bring along a letter from the Ministry, Department and Agency signifying retirement and first appointment dates, grade level and step as at 30th June 2004, grade level and step as at January, 2007,grade level and step as at July 2010,as well as the current grade level and step, their staff identity card, Acceptance of voluntary retirement(in the case of voluntary retirees), authenticated past records of service, evidence of registration with a Pension Fund Administrator indicating personal identification number(PIN) and one passport photograph.
In order to ensure a successful and hitch-free exercise, the Commission requires that Pension Desk Officers (PDOs) of each MDA should be available at designated centres to authenticate and endorse the document of potential retirees.
Medically unfit employees are exempted from the exercise but it is advised that their Pension Desk Officers come along with the documents mentioned above and a letter from a suitably qualified physician or medical board certifying that the employee is not physically or mentally capable of carrying out the functions of his/her office.
The exercise will take place from 3 July to 30 August 2017 at 15 centres across the nation. Employees are strongly advised to participate and adhere strictly to the dates, as only employees who have been enrolled will be issued Federal Government Retirement Bond.