Nigeria’s total pension fund assets rose to N23.65 trillion at the end of April 2025, up from N23.33 trillion in March, according to the latest unaudited report by the National Pension Commission (PenCom).
The figure encompasses all approved existing pension schemes, closed pension fund administrators (PFAs), retirement savings account (RSA) funds, and unremitted contributions. The report underscores a continued preference for government-backed securities, which remain the dominant asset class in the pension portfolio.
Instruments such as FGN bonds, treasury bills, Sukuk, agency bonds, and green bonds form the bulk of the pension industry’s holdings — a trend that persists despite PenCom’s repeated calls for portfolio diversification.
During a sensitisation workshop held in Lagos last Thursday, PenCom’s Director-General, Omolola Oloworaran, stressed the need for pension fund managers to explore alternative investments. She noted that the over-reliance on government securities is driven by perceived liquidity safety but limits long-term returns, especially in a country with a favourable demographic outlook like Nigeria.
PenCom continues to advocate for risk-managed diversification, aiming to enhance sustainability and returns across pension fund investments.
