Quarterly contributions into the Personal Pension Plan rose 42.46 per cent to N147.16m in the first quarter of 2026, up from N103.30m recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025, The PUNCH has learned. Data obtained from the National Pension Commission’s Q1 2026 pension industry report revealed that the N43.86m surge pushed cumulative contributions under the scheme to N1.66bn since inception. Reacting to the increase in revenue despite low participation, Lagos-based stock market trader and pension analyst Ade Ojapa said the figures highlight both progress and persistent structural challenges. “The 42 per cent increase in quarterly inflows demonstrates that active participants are beginning to deposit larger volumes, but the sheer volume of dormant accounts shows that initial onboarding is failing to translate into financial commitment,” Ojapa said. However, the PenCom report highlighted a severe structural deficit, revealing that 91.4 per cent of registered accounts under the scheme remain dormant. Out of 219,316 total registrations recorded from inception to Q1 2026, only 18,811 accounts (8.6 per cent) were funded with active Retirement Savings Accounts. Conversely, 200,505 registered accounts have received zero financial contributions. The figures underscore a persistent hurdle for the regulator: converting initial registrations into active, recurring pension contributions among informal sector participants.

Punch