The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has directed Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) to obtain retirees’ consent for possible enrolment in its PenCare healthcare initiative when processing their retirement benefits under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
The directive requires PFAs to secure informed consent from retirees who choose the Programmed Withdrawal option at the point of signing their retirement agreements, rather than approaching them after their benefits have been processed.
In a circular dated October 26, 2026, and addressed to all licensed PFAs, the commission said the standardised process was designed to facilitate the timely identification and enrolment of eligible retirees, eliminate delays in obtaining consent and improve the completeness of enrolment records.
PenCom, which established the PenCare Initiative in collaboration with licensed pension fund operators, said the programme was intended to improve access to quality healthcare services for eligible retirees under the contributory pension system.
Under the new directive, PFAs are required to use a standard consent form prescribed by the commission when requesting retirees’ approval to participate in the initiative.
However, PenCom clarified that the consent form must remain separate from the Programmed Withdrawal Agreement and that signing the retirement agreement must not be made conditional on accepting the healthcare initiative.
It also stated that retirees who decline participation must not suffer any delay in the processing or payment of their retirement benefits.
The commission directed PFAs to explain the purpose of PenCare before requesting consent and ensure that retirees make their decisions voluntarily, without coercion or undue influence.
They are also required to retain signed consent forms in retirees’ benefit records, maintain separate records of those who accept or decline participation, and submit information on consenting retirees to the commission in the prescribed format and frequency.
On data protection, PenCom instructed pension fund administrators to handle all personal information collected under the initiative in accordance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, the General Application and Implementation Directive (GAID), 2025, and other applicable regulations.
The commission said such information must only be processed for determining eligibility and facilitating enrolment into PenCare, adding that disclosure to third parties would only be permitted where authorised by the commission or required by law.
PenCom said it would monitor compliance through routine supervisory examinations and could take regulatory action against PFAs that fail to implement the requirements.
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