PenCom to launch healthcare initiative for retirees in November
pencom
The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has said it will launch a healthcare initiative for retirees in November as part of efforts to improve their welfare and ease the burden of medical expenses in retirement.
The Director-General of PenCom, Ms Omolola Oloworaran, disclosed this on Wednesday during the Senior Citizens Fair held on the third day of the National Pension Week 2026.
She said the initiative was designed to address healthcare challenges facing pensioners, many of whom struggle to meet medical expenses on their retirement income.
According to her, a pilot phase of the programme was already underway to test its effectiveness ahead of a wider rollout.
The initiative was initially scheduled for launch on Thursday but was postponed due to scheduling challenges. Oloworaran, however, assured senior citizens that it would be launched in November.
She said:“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.
“The Federal Government recognises the need to ensure that Nigerians who have spent their productive years serving the country can enjoy a dignified retirement.”
The PenCom boss also highlighted efforts to address disparities in pension payments, describing situations where retirees in comparable circumstances receive significantly different benefits as an anomaly that requires attention.
Oloworaran further urged senior citizens to share their experiences with the pension system, noting that their feedback would help the commission identify gaps and improve service delivery.
The Commissioner of Finance at PenCom, Dr Charles Emukowhate, urged retirees to embrace healthy ageing, remain purposeful and use their wealth of experience to mentor younger generations.
Emukowhate also cautioned pensioners against fraudsters who promise to double their money or offer suspicious investment opportunities.
Also speaking, the commissioner advised retirees to verify such offers through PenCom and their respective Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) before taking any action involving their retirement savings.
He said: “Pensioners should not disclose sensitive financial information or make decisions based on promises of unusually high returns without proper verification.”
He further commended President Bola Tinubu for settling N758 billion in inherited pension liabilities, describing the development as a significant commitment to pension administration.
According to him, effective regulation and oversight remained essential to protecting pension savings, ensuring timely payment of retirement benefits and strengthening public confidence in the pension system.
Similarly, a consultant geriatrician and founder of JBS Gerontology Centre, Dr Olutoyin Akande-Ajala, urged senior citizens to prioritise their health and remain independent and active in retirement.
Speaking virtually on healthy ageing, she explained that it involved maintaining the ability to perform everyday activities and enjoy life for as long as possible, even when living with certain medical conditions.
Akande-Ajala advised older persons to engage in regular physical activity, eat balanced meals, monitor their blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and undergo routine medical checks.
She said: “Healthy ageing does not necessarily mean living without illness. Rather, it involves preventing avoidable health problems, managing existing medical conditions effectively, and ensuring that such conditions do not unnecessarily limit an individual’s independence.
“The objective of healthy ageing is not merely to live longer but to ensure that the additional years are lived with greater independence, purpose, and quality of life.”
The medical expert warned against dismissing persistent health changes, including recurrent falls, increasing forgetfulness, unexplained weight loss and persistent fatigue, as normal signs of ageing.
She stressed the importance of social connections and mental wellbeing, urging retirees to remain engaged with family, friends and their communities rather than withdraw into isolation.
The Senior Citizens Fair formed part of activities marking National Pension Week 2026, organised under the theme, “Pension for All: Building a Secure Future Together.”
The event brought together retirees, pension beneficiaries, pension experts and other stakeholders for discussions on financial security, healthcare access and measures to improve the quality of life of senior citizens.
