NPF Pensions Limited has launched a WhatsApp-based self-service platform aimed at giving police officers real-time access to their pension information and reducing delays associated with retirement benefit processing.
Acting managing director of the company, Muhammad Dutse, unveiled the platform in Abuja on Wednesday. He said the initiative forms part of efforts to deepen digital service delivery and improve customer experience for contributors under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
According to him, the platform allows police personnel to access key pension services at any time without visiting NPF Pensions offices or waiting for assistance from customer service personnel.
Dutse said the organisation’s immediate target is to enrol all police officers nationwide on the platform within the next two to three months. “Our ultimate goal is to have all police officers nationwide enrolled on this platform. If we can achieve that within a span of two to three months, we will be very happy,” he said.
He explained that the platform operates round-the-clock and enables users to check their Retirement Savings Account (RSA) balances, download account statements, monitor fund performance and access daily unit prices. The service also allows contributors to review their biodata, generate embassy letters, update selected profile information and obtain pension-related documents electronically.
According to Dutse, the platform was developed to address one of the major causes of delays in pension payments, which often arises when retirees discover discrepancies in their records only after leaving service. He said contributors can now identify issues relating to missing contributions or account reconciliations long before retirement.
“Most times, it is when they retire that they get to know certain information about their pension account and we start looking at reconciliation issues, which actually lead to delays in benefit payment,” he said, adding, “With this platform, you can generate your statement, check your balance and identify issues yourself without waiting for anyone.”
The NPF Pension disclosed that about 34,000 police officers have already engaged the platform since it went live, while more than 485,000 enquiries have been processed through the system.
Dutse said the level of engagement demonstrates growing acceptance of digital pension services among police personnel. “As we speak, we have received about 485,000 enquiries from police officers and about 34,000 police officers have engaged the platform since we went live,” he said.
He added that the platform recorded more than 2,700 enquiries on Wednesday alone, describing it as evidence that the system is active, responsive and meeting users’ needs.
On security, Dutse assured contributors that robust safeguards have been integrated into the platform to protect personal information and prevent unauthorised access. He said non-customers can only obtain general information and cannot gain access to contributors’ records.
“This platform is highly secure. It tracks intruders and hackers in real time, so contributors can be assured that their information is safe,” he said. The managing director also said NPF Pensions has made adequate financial provisions to ensure the sustainability of the service.
According to him, subscriptions and operational costs are paid in advance to prevent service disruptions and guarantee continuous availability.
Beyond the digital platform, Dutse addressed concerns over low pension payments among retired police officers and other public servants. He said pension contribution rates established at the inception of the Contributory Pension Scheme had become inadequate due to changing economic realities.
He noted that while contribution rates were increased under the Pension Reform Act of 2014, concerns about retirement income adequacy remain across the industry.
Dutse recalled that the National Pension Commission has proposed an increase in government contributions for police officers from 10 per cent to 20 per cent, while employees would continue contributing eight per cent.
He said the proposal, which has been forwarded to President Bola Tinubu as part of ongoing pension reforms, could raise total contributions for police personnel to 28 per cent. According to him, the measure would strengthen retirement savings and reduce dependence on government support after retirement.
He added that the ongoing review of the Pension Reform Act is expected to produce additional measures aimed at improving pension outcomes for workers across the public sector.
Dutse said NPF Pensions would continue to improve the platform based on user feedback, with plans to introduce more services and further simplify pension administration for contributors. “The beauty of this platform is that we are taking the services to our clients. It is now at their fingertips,” he said.
