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The short answer
Your employer's remittance history is on your RSA statement from your PFA: each credit shows a contribution received, usually against a month and an employer. Check that there is one credit for every month you were paid, that each equals at least 18% of your monthly emoluments (10% employer, 8% employee) under section 4(1) of the Pension Reform Act 2014, and that it arrived soon after payday, since the Act requires remittance within seven working days of paying salary.
Pension deductions appear on your payslip every month, but the deduction only proves money was taken from your pay. Whether it reached your retirement savings account is a separate question, and the only document that answers it is your RSA statement. This guide shows how to read that statement as a remittance record and how to spot the three common problems: missing months, short payments and late payments.
Get the statement first
Your PFA is the source. Most PFAs offer statements through a web portal or app, by email on request, or at a branch; methods differ by PFA. Ask for a statement covering your whole time with the current employer, not just the last quarter. If you have not completed data recapture, PenCom's 2023 FAQ warns that some services will not work until you do. Our guide to getting your RSA statement covers the routes.
What the rules say should be there
| Rule | What it means for your statement | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum 18% of monthly emoluments | Each month's credit should be at least 18% (10% employer, 8% you) | PRA 2014 s.4(1) |
| Remit within 7 working days of paying salary | Credits should land soon after each payday | PRA 2014 s.11(6) |
| Penalty for late remittance | Late payments should carry a penalty of at least 2%, paid into the RSA | PenCom FAQ 2023 |
| Employer may bear the whole 18% | Some employers pay both parts; your payslip then shows no deduction | PenCom FAQ 2023 |
How to read it, line by line
- Put your payslips, or your bank statement showing salary credits, beside the RSA statement.
- For each month of salary, find the matching contribution credit. Note any month with no credit.
- Check the amount. Work out 18% of the emoluments your employer uses for pension (ask HR which pay elements count) and compare.
- Check the date. A credit landing months after the payday suggests late remittance; look for a separate penalty credit.
- Check the employer name or code on each credit, especially if you have had more than one employer.
- List the gaps in a simple table: month, expected amount, amount received, date received.
Worked example
Example only. Bisi's monthly pensionable emoluments are ₦300,000. The minimum monthly contribution is 18%, or ₦54,000: ₦30,000 from the employer (10%) and ₦24,000 deducted from her pay (8%). Over a year that is ₦648,000 (₦54,000 x 12). Her statement shows nine credits of ₦54,000, two of ₦24,000 and one month with nothing. Received: ₦486,000 + ₦48,000 = ₦534,000. Shortfall: ₦648,000 - ₦534,000 = ₦114,000, made up of two months missing the employer's ₦30,000 (₦60,000) and one month missing entirely (₦54,000).
Common patterns and what they usually mean
- Credits stop after a certain month
- Remittances may have stopped, or contributions are going to another PIN in error.
- Credits equal only 8%
- Your deduction was paid but the employer's 10% was not.
- Several months credited at once
- Late remittance; check for the penalty.
- Credits under an unknown employer name
- Possible mix-up of PINs or a group company paying; ask your PFA.
If you have had more than one employer
Your RSA and PIN stay with you from job to job, and every employer should remit to the same account. When you join a new employer, give HR your existing PIN so that a second account is not opened. PenCom's 2023 FAQ says an employer must open an RSA on your behalf if you have not done so within six months of starting, which is one way duplicate accounts appear. If your statement shows a gap that lines up exactly with a change of job, ask your PFA to search for a second PIN in your name.
The scheme does not cover every employer. The same FAQ says the Contributory Pension Scheme applies to private organisations with three or more employees and to all tiers of government; people working for smaller employers or for themselves can join through the Micro Pension Plan. If your employer has fewer than three staff, the absence of credits may not be a breach, though the employer can still choose to remit.
What to do with the gaps
Start with your employer's HR or payroll team and ask for the remittance schedules for the missing months, which show the date, amount and PFA each contribution was sent to. If a schedule exists but no credit appears, take it to your PFA to trace. If there is no schedule, the money was probably not sent. PenCom's 2023 FAQ says employees whose employer has not remitted should complain directly to PenCom, which uses recovery agents and then legal action. Our step-by-step guide to an employer not remitting pension covers that route, and how to complain to PenCom covers the complaint itself.
Questions people ask
How do I know if my employer is paying my pension?
Check your RSA statement from your PFA. Each month you were paid should show a credit of at least 18% of your monthly emoluments, received soon after payday.
How can I check my pension contributions online?
Most PFAs offer statements through a web portal or app once you register with your PIN. Methods vary, so check your PFA's site.
What if my RSA statement shows only 8%?
That suggests your deduction was paid but the employer's 10% was not. Ask HR for remittance schedules, then raise it with your PFA and PenCom if unresolved.
How long does an employer have to remit pension?
Seven working days from the date salary is paid, under section 11(6) of the Pension Reform Act 2014.
Sources
- Highlights of the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014, Standard Bank Community · accessed Oct 2026
- Frequently Asked Questions 2023, National Pension Commission · accessed Oct 2026
- National Pension Commission home page (operators by category, complaints) · accessed Oct 2026
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