NECA Urges FG to Constitute NSITF, PENCOM Boards

*Threatens to stop contributions if these boards are not constituted

Dike Onwuamaeze

Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has called on the federal government to immediately constitute the boards of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and National Pension Commission (PENCOM), among others, to ensure effective governance, transparency, and accountability in the management of employer’s contributions and workers’ pension funds.
Speaking in Lagos yesterday, Director-General of NECA, Mr. Adewale Smatt-Oyerinde, expressed deep concern over the prolonged delay in constituting these boards.
Smatt-Oyerinde emphasised that the absence of proper governance structures was creating significant accountability concerns and uncertainty in the fund’s administration.
He said, “The NSITF Act of 1993 mandates the establishment of a board to provide oversight and policy direction in the administration of social insurance contributions.
“Similarly, the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014 requires the PENCOM Board to safeguard the integrity of the pension industry. Without these Boards, there is a glaring governance gap that weakens regulatory oversight and exposes the NSITF and the Pension funds to intended and unintended risks.”  
He also highlighted that “the contributions to NSITF and PENCOM are not government’s income. They are strictly employer’s funds, contributed for specific purposes”.
According to him, “Employers, and, indeed, workers, who make mandatory contributions to these schemes, are becoming increasingly concerned about the absence of governance structures to ensure judicious fund management.
“Moreover, this deviation from international best practices contradicts the principles of good governance upheld by global organisations such as the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which stress the importance of effective governance in social security and pension management.”
Smatt-Oyerinde warned that the continued failure to constitute these boards was a contravention of statutory provisions, which was eroding public trust and could compel employers to stop their contributions due to concerns over fund transparency and mismanagement.
He stressed that maintaining employer confidence in these institutions was crucial to ensuring the financial security of Nigerian workers and retirees.
Reiterating its stance, the director-general urged the government to act swiftly in constituting the boards in line with legal requirements.

“The business community remains committed to fulfilling its statutory obligations but expects the government to uphold principles of good governance and global best practices,” he stated