Insurance & Pension

17 Micro Pension Contributors Get Funds from Savings Portion

Published

2 years ago

June 30, 2021

By Niyi Jacobs, Editor

Having made contributions toward targeted projects, 17 contributors to the Micro Pension Plan (MPP) have withdrawal N4.38 million from their savings portion in the first quarter of 2021.

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) on withdrawals from the contingent portion of micro pension contributions, said six Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) processed and approved requests amounting to N4,375,646.34 from 17 MPP contributors during the period under review.

PenCom also noted that during the quarter 19 PFAs registered 3,292 contributors under the Micro Pension Plan, stressing that in the same vein, a total sum of N16,711,942.25 was remitted to the RSAs of 435 contributors during the period.

The pension sector regulator said 105 Micro Pension Participants, within the same period converted to the mandatory Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and the sum of N963,136.42 was transferred to their respective RSAs.

The Director-General, PenCom, Mrs. Aisha Dahir-Umar, said the Micro Pension Plan was designed to fit the peculiarities of the informal sector groups, adding that PenCom had extensively engaged all relevant stakeholders and obtained their inputs before the product was developed to suit their requirements.
She posited that the product is flexible with respect to contribution amount and the channel of remittance of contributions to the respective pension accounts, stressing that access to accumulated contributions is also flexible, seamless and facilitated by technology through varied payment system platforms.

According to her, a prospective Micro Pension contributor is required to open a Retirement Savings Account (RSA) by completing a physical or electronic registration form with a Pension Funds Administrator (PFA) of his/her choice, and the contributors may make contributions daily, weekly, monthly or as may be convenient to them.

She stated that every contribution shall be split into two, comprising 40 per cent for contingent withdrawal and 60 per cent for retirement benefits, adding that the contributor may, based on his/her needs, periodically withdraw the total or part of the balance of the contingent portion of his/her RSA, including all accrued investment income thereto.

The contributor, she said may also choose to convert the contingent portion of the contributions to the retirement benefits portion and the remaining balance in the RSA shall be available to the contributor upon retirement or attaining the age of 50 years.

“Pursuant to its regulatory and supervisory mandate, the Commission had established a separate Department dedicated to the supervision of all matters relating to Micro Pension Plan, including enforcement of compliance with the Guidelines and customer complaint handling and resolution. Our objective is to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery as well as transparency and accountability in the administration of the product by licensed pension operators,” she said.
She stated that guaranteed minimum pension will be given, provided the contributor made contributions for a cumulative period of not less than 120 months and the RSA balance at retirement shall not be less than N500,000.

She maintained that the plan is expected to significantly expand pension coverage to greater number of Nigerians and further generate additional long term funds for Nigeria’s economic development, adding that the Commission would collaborate with relevant stakeholders to sensitize and enlighten the target participants and members of the public on the features and benefits of the Micro Pension Plan.

Related Topics:#insurance #micropensionplan #mpp #pension

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Insurance & Pension

Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Attributes GCR Ratings Stable Outlook To Commitment To Excellence

Published

4 weeks ago

May 9, 2023

Business Echo Magazine

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Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, a subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, has received an Initial Management Quality Rating of MQ2(NG)(mq) with a Stable Outlook from Global Credit Ratings (GCR).

The rating demonstrated the company’s commitment to excellence in all aspects of its operations.

GCR, the rating agency, gained expertise in assessing the creditworthiness of financial institutions, corporates, and government entities, and had established itself as a leading rating agency in Africa. GCR adopted a Management Quality (MQ) rating system that ranked from the highest rating of ‘MQ1’ to the lowest rating of ‘MQ5’. These ratings served as indicators of an entity’s organizational structure, risk management capabilities, and operational controls. They also hinted at markets of the overall quality, management characteristics, and operating practices of organizations.

The MQ2 rating assigned to Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers was an indicator of the institution’s strong management team with robust organizational structures, adequate controls, and sound risk management practices. It also accentuated the company’s clear strategy and solid financial position.

In a statement, Dr. Demola Sogunle, Chairman, Board of Directors of Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, expressed delight in the rating. He stated that it was evidence of the company’s dedication to achieving excellence in all areas of its operations.

“We are very delighted to have received this rating from GCR, which recognizes our concrete efforts to maintain the highest standards of corporate governance, risk management, and financial performance,” Demola said.

Demola noted that the rating would boost confidence among Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers’ clients and stakeholders and would affirm the company’s dynamic capability to manage risks and deliver on its commitments.

Olumide Oyetan, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, attributed the rating and success of the organization to its commitment to better serve customers without compromising operational excellence.

He said, “We are a member of the Standard Bank Group, Africa’s largest banking group by assets, totaling US$170 billion, as of 31 December 2022. This feat has enabled us to leverage the Group’s resources for our portfolio management functions. Our sister company, Stanbic IBTC Bank, is also the only AAA-rated Bank in Nigeria today, lending further credence to the Group’s strength and stamina, especially in its leadership and governance structures”.

“We deliver pension fund administration and management services to over 1.9 million private and public sector Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA) holders under the Contributory Pension Scheme) through our extensive network of 29 branches and ten service centers nationwide.”

Olumide said the organization also managed defined benefit plans for large corporates and provided value-added services, including retirement planning advice and personal financial planning. He described Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers as an organization equipped with a stable and experienced management team with sound management experience to keep the organization ahead of the pack in its operations and practices.

“Our portfolio management is sound, and our investment style is value-based with a long-term bias. We implement a top-down approach in securities selection, which is monitored monthly by the executive committee. We also offer our clients transparency and ease of account access through channels such as our secure web portal, 24/7 multilingual contact center, telephone, email, SMS, and our growing loop of client experience centers,” Olumide said.

The PFA’s Chief Executive noted that the company maintained an adequate operational risk management framework. He said, “We manage cyber, and data privacy risks using internal controls reviewed annually by independent third parties to reassure all our stakeholders of our commitment to doing business correctly and safely”.

Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers is committed to maintaining the highest professional and operational standards in delivering exceptional services to its growing clientele. The company website, www.stanbicibtcpension.com, has more information on Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers.

Insurance & Pension

Use Of Pension Funds For Morgage Equity Contribution

Published

8 months ago

September 27, 2022

Business Echo Magazine

Use Of Pension Funds For Morgage Equity Contribution

Retirement Saving Account (“RSA”) holders can now access 25% of their RSA balance towards making equity contributions for residential mortgages in Nigeria.

This was contained in a statement released by Nigeria’s pensions regulator, the National Pension Commission (“PENCOM” or the “Commission”) on September 23, 2022.

In a statement, the Commission informed the investing public of its approval for the issuance and immediate implementation of Guidelines on Accessing Retirement Savings Account Balances for payment of equity contribution for residential mortgages. This approval was made pursuant to the Pension Reform Act, 2014 wherein s. 89 (2) allows RSA holders to use a portion of their RSA balances to make equity payments for residential mortgages.

This is not open to everyone. To be eligible, the RSA holder must (a) be in active employment, (b) not be due for retirement within 3 years, (c) have both employer and employee mandatory contribution for 60 months (5 years), and (d) have a valid and verifiable offer for the purchase of the property. Contributors under Micro Pension Plans are also eligible. Married couples, who individually meet the eligibility requirements, can also make a joint application. You can only make an application in person and not by proxy.

The maximum amount accessible is 25% of the total mandatory RSA balance as of the date of application.

Mortgage lenders would also need to satisfy eligibility requirements. To qualify, mortgage lenders must (x) be licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, (y) comply with the Contributory Pensions Scheme, and (z) have valid Pensions Clearance Certificates.

Given the housing deficit in Nigeria, this development will assist in providing access to funding for real estate investments, and assist in reducing the housing deficit in Nigeria. RSA holders will no longer need to wait until retirement or loss of work to access funds in their RSAs. The situation is even better for employees who are contributors to the National Housing Fund. These employees can now access funds from two independent sources to finance their own homes.

Insurance & Pension

Edwin Igbiti Emerges 51st CIIN President, As Investiture Ceremony Holds Today

Published

11 months ago

July 15, 2022

Business Echo Magazine

Edwin Igbiti Emerges As 51st CIIN President, Investiture Ceremony Holds Today

Olushola Okunlade Writes

The Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) is set to inaugurate Mr. Edwin Igbiti as its 51st President/Chairman of Council.

Edwin Igbiti ‘s investiture ceremony as the 51st President and Chairman of Council will hold today Friday, July 15, 2022, at Lagos Continental Hotel, 52A Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island in Lagos State by 1:00 PM.

He is next in line to handle the baton after the successful completion of Mr. Muftau Oyegunle’s tenure at the helm of affairs since 2020.

Igbiti, a seasoned professional with an inestimable depth and wealth of technical experience that is acknowledged across the industry, Igbiti has managed relationships between the company and several international partners and affiliates and is a solution-proffering, team-spirited leader with excellent interpersonal skills. Igbiti has worked in various capacities, including underwriting sales and claims management in the insurance industry. Before joining AIICO Insurance Plc in 1992 as a Deputy Manager, he started out working at Phoenix Insurance Company as an underwriting trainee. The years he spent working there apparently helped to prepare him for the long and successful career he has had thus far in the industry.

The investiture ceremony, which is scheduled to hold today, will bring Mr. Igbiti on board as the next President as well as the Chairman of the Council of the premier professional body in the country.

Mr. Igbiti is one of Nigeria’s most prominent business executives. With an outstanding educational background and many years of professional experience, he has written his name in the sands of history as one of the strongest and most renowned voices in the insurance industry and the corporate business environment in Nigeria.

He showed much interest in the insurance business from a very early age and little wonder that he became an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute of London in 1990.

In his quest for knowledge, he obtained an Advanced Diploma in Management from the Department of Business Administration, the University of Lagos in 1996 and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Ado Ekiti, in 2005.

Similarly, the insurer has garnered outstanding professional certifications both within and outside Nigeria such as an Executive Leadership Programme from Howard University School of Business and the Chief Executive and Directors Programme from the Management School in London.

Mr. Igbiti is a Certified Insurance practitioner with the Chartered Insurance Institute of London (CII), a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (FIIN), a Fellow of the Risk Managers Society of Nigeria (RIMSON), Associate of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) and a Fellow of the Risk Surveyors Association of Nigeria (RISAN).

He is a seasoned professional with depth and wealth of technical expertise having worked in various capacities, including underwriting, sales, and claims management in the insurance industry.

He started his professional sojourn at Phoenix Insurance Company as an Underwriting Trainee before moving to AIICO Insurance Plc where he worked for several years and provided managerial, strategic, and operational leadership in uniquely challenging situations with verifiable evidence of achieving revenue, profit, and business growth objectives.

He served as the General Manager, Non-Life Underwriting at AIICO Insurance Plc between January 2010 to September 2013. During this period, he was responsible for the overall performance of the General Insurance Division. He rose to the position of the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, AIICO Insurance Plc in 2013 where he was responsible for running and supervising the affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries (AIICO Pension, AIICO Capital, and AIICO Multishield).

In those years he served as the GMD of AIICO, he recorded giant strides which contributed hugely to the company’s overall growth.

Mr. Igbiti also served briefly as the Managing Director of Niger Insurance Plc before moving to Quicklink Insurance Brokers Limited as a top management staff where he is active to date.

Aside from being an insurance professional, Edwin is a chartered member of the Nigerian Institute of Management, a certified Business Continuity Systems Lead Auditor from the British Institute, UK, and an alumnus of the Howard University Business School, U.S.A.

He is a Member of the Institute of Directors (IoD) and was once a Council member of the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA).

He is the immediate past Chairman of the Governing Board of the College of Insurance and Financial Management and he currently seats as the Deputy President of the Governing Council of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) where he has meteorically risen to the new president of the Institute.