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The short answer
You update the next of kin on your RSA with your own PFA, by completing its data update or change of details request with valid ID and the new next of kin's full name, relationship, phone number and address. If you registered before 1 July 2019 you must complete data recapture first, because PenCom's FAQs say records cannot be updated until it is done.
Why it matters
The next of kin on your RSA is the person your PFA contacts if something happens to you. People name a parent when they first start work and never revisit it, so years later the record shows a parent who has died, a sibling abroad with an old number, or an ex-spouse. When the family needs the PFA to act, an outdated record slows everything down and can cause friction between relatives.
What a next of kin can and cannot do
Being named next of kin is not the same as inheriting the RSA. KPMG's summary of the Pension Reform Act 2014 says the PFA pays the RSA balance to the personal representative of the deceased on a will admitted to probate or letters of administration. The group life insurance your employer must keep is paid to the named beneficiary on that policy, which you set through your employer, not the PFA. So there are three records worth keeping current: your RSA next of kin, your group life beneficiary at work, and your will. Our guide to RSA death benefit claims explains the claim side, and how the RSA pension system works covers the basics.
Before you start: data recapture
PenCom's 2023 FAQs list among the consequences of not recapturing that you cannot transfer your RSA or update your records. If you registered before 1 July 2019 and have not recaptured, do that first, in person, with your NIN, ID, proof of age and employment letter. Many PFAs let you update next of kin in the same visit. See RSA data recapture.
Steps
- Find your RSA PIN and confirm which PFA holds your account.
- Ask the PFA for its change of details or data update form; many publish it on their website or app.
- Fill in the new next of kin's full name as on their ID, relationship to you, phone number, email and address. Some PFAs allow more than one next of kin; ask.
- Attach a copy of your valid ID and anything the PFA requests, such as passport photographs or a sworn declaration if names differ across documents.
- Submit through the channel the PFA accepts: branch, email, app or agent. Some PFAs require a signed form or biometric confirmation for changes to personal data.
- Ask for written confirmation and check your next statement or app profile shows the change.
Choosing a next of kin
- Pick someone reachable who will still be reachable in ten years.
- Give a phone number that works in Nigeria; add an email for anyone abroad.
- Tell them they are named, which PFA you use and where your RSA PIN is kept.
- Review it at life events: marriage, divorce, a child coming of age, a death in the family.
Worked example
Example only. Amaka, 41, opened her RSA at 24 and named her father, who has since died. She registered in 2009, so she books recapture at her PFA, brings her NIN slip, international passport, birth certificate and employment letter, and asks to update next of kin in the same visit, naming her husband with his NIN-matched name and phone number. She also asks HR to change her group life beneficiary, and adds a line in her will about her RSA so the executor knows which PFA to approach. Three records, one afternoon.
Common mistakes
- Spelling the next of kin's name differently from their ID. When the PFA later needs to verify that person, a mismatch causes delay.
- Giving a landline or an office number that will change.
- Assuming the employer's HR record and the PFA record are the same. They are separate; update both.
- Naming a minor without also naming an adult contact. A child cannot deal with the PFA alone.
- Updating the form but never checking the record. Look at your app profile or next statement to confirm.
If you live abroad
PenCom's FAQs say no proxy is allowed for recapture, so if you still need it, plan for an in-person visit or ask your PFA about any diaspora channel. A next of kin update on an already recaptured account may be possible by email or app; your PFA will say. See your RSA when you move abroad.
Where Pryme fits
Keeping one current list of who should be contacted about your money is good practice across accounts. The Personal Assistant on a Pryme Personal Account can remind you to review it once a year, and nothing changes without your approval.
Questions people ask
How do I change my next of kin on my pension?
Ask your PFA for its change of details form, fill in the new next of kin's details, attach your ID and submit it through the PFA's accepted channel. Complete data recapture first if you registered before 1 July 2019.
Does my next of kin automatically get my RSA when I die?
No. The PFA pays the RSA balance to the personal representative on a will admitted to probate or letters of administration. The next of kin record helps the PFA know whom to contact.
Can I update next of kin online?
Some PFAs accept updates by app or email on recaptured accounts. Others require a branch visit or biometric confirmation. Check your PFA's channels.
Is next of kin the same as group life beneficiary?
No. The group life beneficiary is set with your employer for the insurance policy it must maintain. Update both.
Sources
- PenCom, Frequently Asked Questions, 2023 edition (PDF) · accessed Oct 2026
- KPMG Nigeria newsletter, The Pension Reform Act 2014 (Jul 2014) · accessed Oct 2026
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