BY NGOZI ONYEAKUSI

The pension funds assets under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) has recorded N24.63trillion in the first half of 2025.

According to the National Pension Commission (PenCom) the  funds grew by N2.12tn, or 9.41 per cent to record N24.63trillion within the period.

Compared to the same period of 2024, this is a lower percentage growth, as pension funds rose 11.59 per cent or N2.13tn, in the corresponding period last year.

The figure includes all approved existing schemes, closed pension fund administrators, and retirement savings account funds, as well as unremitted contributions. Pension funds have consistently grown this year, rising month on month, with the highest percentage growth recorded in May when it crossed N24tn. As has been the trend, the appetite for government-backed instruments remained strong even as there had been calls for the inclusion of investment in alternative assets by pension fund administrators. As of June 2024, total Federal Government-backed securities (FGN bonds, treasury bills, Sukuk, agency bonds, and green bonds) stood at N15.19tn, followed by corporate debt securities at N2.26tn, then money market instruments cornered N2.24tn, and mutual funds stood at N183.82bn.