The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has fixed November for the launch of a healthcare initiative aimed at easing medical costs for retirees, many of whom struggle to meet healthcare needs on their pension income.
The Director-General of PenCom, Ms Omolola Oloworaran, announced the planned launch on Wednesday at the Senior Citizens Fair, held as part of activities marking National Pension Week 2026.
She said a pilot phase of the programme was already underway to assess its effectiveness before a wider rollout, adding that the initial launch date had been shifted because of scheduling challenges.
Oloworaran said the initiative was part of efforts to improve the welfare of pensioners and ensure that access to healthcare did not become an additional burden after years of service.
“Retirement should not be regarded as the end of an individual’s productive life but as a new phase that deserves adequate financial and social support,” she said.
She added that the Federal Government recognised the need to provide Nigerians who had spent their productive years serving the country with the support required to enjoy a dignified retirement.
The PenCom chief also drew attention to disparities in pension payments, describing cases where retirees in comparable circumstances received significantly different benefits as an anomaly requiring attention.
She urged pensioners to share their experiences with the commission, saying their feedback would help identify weaknesses in the pension system and improve service delivery.
At the event, PenCom Commissioner for Finance, Dr Charles Emukowhate, urged retirees to protect their pension savings against fraudsters who promise unusually high returns or claim they can multiply their money within a short period.
He advised pensioners to verify investment offers with PenCom or their respective Pension Fund Administrators before committing their savings, warning against disclosing sensitive financial information to unverified individuals.
“Pensioners should not disclose sensitive financial information or make decisions based on promises of unusually high returns without proper verification,” he said.
Emukowhate also commended President Bola Tinubu for settling N758 billion in inherited pension liabilities, describing the payment as a significant step in pension administration.
He said effective regulation and oversight remained essential to protecting pension savings, ensuring timely payment of retirement benefits and maintaining public confidence in the system.
Beyond financial security, experts at the fair stressed the need for retirees to take practical steps to maintain their health and independence as they grow older.
A consultant geriatrician and founder of JBS Gerontology Centre, Dr Olutoyin Akande-Ajala, said healthy ageing should be measured not simply by longevity but by the ability to remain active and perform everyday activities for as long as possible.
Speaking virtually, she advised older persons to exercise regularly, eat balanced meals, monitor their blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and undergo routine medical checks.
“Healthy ageing does not necessarily mean living without illness,” she said, explaining that the priority was to prevent avoidable health problems, manage existing conditions and reduce their impact on daily life.
Akande-Ajala warned older persons against dismissing recurrent falls, increasing forgetfulness, unexplained weight loss and persistent fatigue as inevitable consequences of ageing, urging them to seek medical attention when such changes occur.
She also highlighted the importance of social relationships and mental wellbeing, encouraging retirees to remain connected to family, friends and their communities rather than withdraw into isolation.
The Senior Citizens Fair was organised as part of National Pension Week 2026, themed, “Pension for All: Building a Secure Future Together.”
The event brought together retirees, pension beneficiaries, pension experts and other stakeholders to discuss retirement security, healthcare access and ways to improve the welfare of older Nigerians.
