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The short answer
First find out who pays the pension: a Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) under the Contributory Pension Scheme, PTAD for many older federal pensioners on the defined benefit scheme, or a state or employer scheme. Arrears usually come from failed verification, wrong bank details or unpaid accrued rights. Write to the payer with your parent's PIN or pensioner number, ID, bank details and a signed letter authorising you, and note that PenCom's annual I am Alive verification starts on 1 December 2026, with pensions suspended after a three-month grace period if it is missed.
Many Nigerians abroad watch a parent's pension stop or fall behind and wonder what they can do from thousands of miles away. A great deal can be done remotely: identifying the payer, gathering documents, writing letters and following up. Some steps still need your parent, or someone in Nigeria, in person. This guide sets out the routes. It is information, not legal or financial advice.
Step one: who pays the pension?
| Scheme | Who it covers | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) | Public service and private sector workers under the Pension Reform Act, from June 2004 | The parent's Pension Fund Administrator (PFA), from the Retirement Savings Account |
| Defined benefit (old scheme), federal | Retirees exempted from the CPS, including those who retired before June 2004, from Treasury-funded federal bodies | The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), set up by the Pension Reform Act 2014 |
| State and local government schemes | Depends on the state | The state pensions board or bureau |
| Other exempt groups | PenCom lists judicial officers, the armed forces, intelligence and secret services as exempt from the CPS | Their own arrangements |
These descriptions come from PenCom's 2023 FAQ. Your parent's last payslip, pension letter or bank narration usually shows who pays. A CPS retiree will have an RSA PIN from the PFA.
Why pensions fall into arrears
- Missed verification. Payers check pensioners are alive. PenCom's circular of 3 July 2026 makes an annual I am Alive verification compulsory for all CPS retirees on monthly pension, from 1 December 2026.
- Bank account problems. A dormant account, a closed bank, a name mismatch with the BVN or a changed phone number.
- Accrued rights not yet paid. For public servants who moved into the CPS, PenCom says accrued rights for service before the CPS are paid through the Retirement Benefit Bond Redemption Fund at the CBN.
- Pension increases not applied after a federal or state review.
- Records errors such as a wrong date of birth or retirement date.
The I am Alive verification from December 2026
PenCom's circular (reference PenCom/INSP//CIR/Surv/2026/761) sets these rules for CPS retirees:
- Verification is yearly, with the window open all year and spot checks mid-year.
- It can be done digitally through the PFA's app or portal (with a video call option for people with mobility problems) or in person at a PFA office or verification centre, with outreach for the elderly and infirm.
- Retirees register with their RSA PIN and the phone number or email linked to their account; a live photo is matched to PenCom's records.
- PFAs must resolve failed verifications within five working days.
- After a three-month grace period, an unverified pension is temporarily suspended and the next of kin notified.
- PenCom says neither it nor any PFA will ever ask for an ATM card PIN or charge money for verification.
That last point matters: verification season brings scam calls. See protecting elderly parents from bank scams.
Claiming arrears: the steps
- Collect the basics: your parent's full name as on their records, RSA PIN or pensioner number, employer and retirement date, NIN, BVN, bank details and phone number, and the date the last payment arrived.
- Get your parent to sign a short letter authorising you (or a named relative in Nigeria) to make enquiries for them. A power of attorney may be asked for larger matters; see powers of attorney signed abroad.
- Write to the payer (PFA, PTAD or state board) by email and keep a copy: state the problem, the months unpaid, and attach the documents.
- Check verification status, and if it lapsed, arrange verification by app or in person.
- Confirm the bank account is active and the name matches. Update details through the payer, not by phone with someone who called you.
- Follow up in writing every two weeks with your reference number.
- For CPS matters not resolved by the PFA, complain to PenCom, whose website links a complaints channel and gives its office as 174 Ademola Adetokunbo, Wuse 2, Abuja, and its email as info@pencom.gov.ng.
PTAD issued a notice in December 2023 asking verified pensioners and next of kin with unpaid gratuity or death benefits to send complaints to its email address; the address on the page we read was garbled, so take the current contact from PTAD's own website.
If your parent has died
Arrears and other benefits go to the estate or named beneficiaries. PenCom's FAQ says a PFA pays the RSA balance to the executors of a will or an administrator appointed by the Probate Registry, so letters of administration or probate are usually needed. PenCom's older death-benefit procedure also lists a medical certificate of death and next-of-kin ID among the documents. See letters of administration from abroad.
Where Pryme fits
While arrears are being sorted, you may need to support your parent. A Pryme account lets you convert with Swap (the app shows the rate and the fee before you approve) and send naira monthly. If your parent's pension will be paid to you abroad later, see a Nigerian pension paid to an account abroad.
Questions people ask
How do I check if my father's pension is with PTAD or a PFA?
Look at his pension letter, payslips or the narration on his bank credits. A CPS retiree has an RSA PIN and is paid by a PFA; many older federal retirees on the old scheme are paid by PTAD.
What is the PenCom I am Alive verification?
An annual check, compulsory from 1 December 2026 for CPS retirees on monthly pension, done by app, portal or in person. Missed verification leads to suspension after a three-month grace period.
Can I claim my mother's pension arrears from abroad?
You can make enquiries and send documents with her signed authority, but the payer may need her verification or signature. For larger matters a power of attorney may be required.
Who pays pension arrears after a pensioner dies?
They form part of the estate. PenCom says PFAs pay the RSA balance to the executors of a will or an administrator appointed by the Probate Registry.
Sources
- PenCom: Circular on I am Alive verification exercise (3 Jul 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- PenCom: Frequently asked questions, 2023 edition · accessed Oct 2026
- PTAD: Commences NOK and gratuity expanded project (12 Dec 2023) · accessed Oct 2026
- PenCom: Procedure for processing death benefits (30 Apr 2009) · accessed Oct 2026
- PenCom: home page (operators, contacts, complaints) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.