The National Pension Commission (PenCom) says it has commenced the online verification and enrolment exercise for prospective retirees in ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the federal government.

The commission said the exercise is for those who are due to retire in 2025.

Omolola Oloworaran, acting director-general (DG), PenCom, spoke at a workshop on the online enrolment application for pension desk officers (PDOs) of treasury-funded ministries, departments and agencies (MDA) of the federal government, on Monday in Abuja.

Oloworaran said the commission is working effortlessly to ensure that challenges such as application downtimes are resolved.

She also said a new and more efficient enrolment application that will provide a user-friendly and seamless experience for users has been developed.

“At the National Pension Commission (PenCom), we hold firmly to our statutory responsibility of ensuring a seamless pre-retirement verification and enrolment process for employees of federal government treasury-funded MDAs,” Oloworaran said.

“Each year, we embark on this exercise to gather accurate data for determining the Accrued Pension Rights of prospective retirees, so that the federal government can make the necessary budgetary provisions.

“Today’s session is not just a routine gathering; it is part of PenCom’s commitment to building the capacity of stakeholders, specifically you, the Pension Desk Officers, whose roles are indispensable in this process.

“This workshop aims to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively use the application and address any challenges that arise during the enrolment process.

“We are also here to confront the issues of the past head-on.”

‘THERE WERE GAPS IN PREVIOUS ENROLMENT’

She further said in previous enrolment exercises, gaps and challenges were observed.

The PenCom DG added that the workshop will provide practical solutions and clarity on the modalities for the upcoming 2025 enrollment.

“We understand that some challenges, like application downtimes, have occasionally hindered the process, particularly during last-minute rushes,” she said.

“I am pleased to inform you that we are actively working on developing a new, more efficient enrolment application that will provide a user-friendly and seamless experience for all stakeholders.”

Oloworaran also reassured that the commission is committed to continuously improving service delivery across the pension industry.

The PenCom boss said despite some setbacks, including delays in the release of funds for retirees’ accrued rights, she’s confident that these issues will soon be resolved.

“Today is not just about resolving technical issues; it is also about reaffirming our shared responsibility to Nigeria’s retirees, who deserve timely and seamless access to their benefits,” she added.

Oloworaran also said significant progress has been made by all critical stakeholders to clear the outstanding pension liabilities and put in place long-term solutions that will prevent future delays in funding.

Access Holdings Plc says Access Bank, its flagship subsidiary, has secured a provisional licence from the Bank of Namibia to establish a commercial bank in the country.

Speaking in a statement on Monday, Sunday Ekwochi, the company’s secretary, said Access Bank’s operations in Namibia are expected to stimulate the local economy and strengthen its position as a leading regional player.

Commenting on the development, Roosevelt Ogbonna, managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of Access Bank, described the move as a milestone in the bank’s efforts to promote intra-African trade.

“This expansion represents an important milestone towards establishing a railroad in Namibia for intra-African trade within the Southern African region, Africa, and the rest of the world,” Ogbonna said.

“It cements our commitment to building a robust Southern African banking network to deliver shared prosperity and advance financial inclusion thereby empowering many to achieve their dreams.”

Ogbonna said Access Bank’s entry into the Namibian market aligns with the institution’s broader goal of building a strong global franchise, opening new opportunities for businesses and individuals alike.

The CEO expressed the company’s eagerness to collaborate with local stakeholders to drive innovation, empower communities, and make a significant contribution to the region’s prosperity.

“We remain confident that our investments towards diversifying and strengthening the Bank’s long-term earnings profile will deliver significant value to our shareholders, customers, and wider stakeholder groups,” he added.

The bank also said in the coming months, it would work to fulfill the conditions required for the final licence approval and will keep the market informed.

Access Bank said with existing operations in Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zambia, it is positioned to offer stakeholders seamless access to diverse opportunities for expansion and collaboration across the region.

The First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) has announced the full restoration of services on its mobile banking platform, Firstmobile, following a brief disruption caused by a recent upgrade of the application.

In a statement on Monday, Folake Ani-Mumuney, group head of marketing and corporate communications at FBN, said Firstmobile is now fully operational.

The bank assured customers of its continued commitment to delivering seamless and innovative financial services.

“Firstmobile is now up and running as the bank remains committed to delivering seamless and innovative financial services to enhance the digital banking experience of our customers, irrespective of where they may be across the globe,” First Bank said.

“However, customers who still experience challenges in accessing or using their Firstmobile app are encouraged to contact our dedicated customer service team, FirstContact, via any of the means below: On phone: 070 FIRSTCONTACT (0700 34778 2668228) 02014485500, 07080625000, 08070194190.

“Email: complaints@firstbankgroup.com and firstcontactcomplaints@firstbankgroup.com.”

In addition to Firstmobile, the bank said customers can continue to enjoy convenient access to a wide range of banking services via its other channels such as firstonline (online banking platform), firstmonie wallet and firstmonie (agent banking).

Others include FirstBank automated teller machines (ATMs), FirstBank debit and credit cards, and USSD banking.

The financial institution apologised for any inconvenience caused during the service disruption and reassured customers of its dedication to providing a seamless banking experience.

Last week, First Bank customers took to X to express frustration over their inability to access the bank’s mobile platform.

In response, the bank issued a statement on October 1 apologising for the disruption and assuring customers that efforts were being made to resolve the issue.

The bank also urged customers to use alternative channels to complete transactions while the technical difficulties persisted.

In a follow-up statement on October 2, the company reiterated that its team was actively working to resolve the problem, encouraging the use of alternative channels.