‘We only train employees on pension’ — association denies PenCom’s ‘illegal activities’ allegations

The Association of Pension Desk Practitioners of Nigeria (ASSOPEP) has debunked allegations by the National Pension Commission (PenCom) that its activities are “illicit”.

Last week, PenCom warned Nigerians against the ASSOPEP, asking them to take cautious steps in seeking guidance on retirement benefits.

The commission also denied the association’s claims of affiliation with the pension industry.

Reacting to the accusation in a statement on Tuesday, Nelson Bassey, the group’s head of administration, said ASSOPEP never claimed to be an affiliate or representative of PenCom or any pension fund administrators (PFAs) or pension fund custodian (PFC) at any time.

“Our attention has been drawn to a disclaimer by PenCom published on Friday, April 7,” the statement reads.

“We, hereby, wish to state categorically that we have never collected money from anyone with a promise to assist him or her to recover their funds in the pension system.”

Bassey said the association is engaged in the training and retraining of pension desk practitioners and other employees to have adequate knowledge of pension, retirement planning, and entrepreneurship.

He said the group, in the course of its training, listened to challenges contributors face, such as unremitted contributions by employers to PFAs.

Bassey said some contributors also complained of their inability to access their pension after retirement, due to issues of documentation, and thus, the association advised accordingly.

“We, also at every point in time, during our training interactions reiterate that there is no alternative to the PRA 2004 and 2014 as amended,” he said.

“We have also noted that most members of the public, especially the informal sector, lack adequate knowledge of pension and retirement planning.

“Our association has encouraged them to enroll in the contributory pension scheme through our regular advocacy.

“ASSOPEP has never claimed to be consulting with or for any PFA and PenCom.

“Our association’s activities and public advocacy has received favorable media publicity such as the ASSOPEP pension conference held a few years ago.

“ASSOPEP past conferences were attended by state’s pension board directors, state’s head of service, directors of ministries, departments and agencies, pension desk practitioners, and a host of others, without any adverse report on our activities.”

Bassey also noted that the association has not sent any letter to PenCom or any PFA, requesting for payment of any pension contributor, nor has any contributor paid them to do so.

He said the association did not claim to resolve pension issues and assist retirees in securing their retirement benefits.

According to Bassey, the association’s core mandate was to help employees not to commit mistakes that would delay the payment of their pension.

“This is based on interaction with such employees and discovering that most causes of the delay in their pension payment are based on ignorance,” he said.