The National Pension Commission (PenCom), in collaboration with Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), says it will unveil a self-service online data recapture application platform on February 1.
According to a statement by the commission in Abuja on Friday, the platform is known as the Data Recapture Self-Service Platform (PENCAP).
The statement said that the platform would enable Retirement Savings Account (RSA) holders to remotely update their personal records (recapture) without necessarily visiting their PFAs.
The commission said that PENCAP targets RSA holders who joined the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) on or before July 1, 2019 and have not undergone the data recapture process.
It said that the initiative marked another key step by PenCom to enhance data integrity, improve service delivery and modernise pension administration through responsible digitalisation.
The commission said that the rationale for the Data Recapture Exercise was because accurate and up-to-date data remained fundamental to the efficient administration of retirement savings under the CPS.
It said that over time, data inconsistencies arising from legacy records and incomplete documentation had posed challenges during verification and benefit processing.
“PENCAP provides a proactive solution by offering contributors a secure and convenient channel to recapture their data, by improving the quality and reliability of contributor records across PFAs.
“The platform will also support faster benefit processing, smoother verification exercises and an overall improvement in service experience for RSA holders.
“The direct recapture exercise commenced in August 2019 for both active contributors and retirees, ” it said.
PenCom said that the exercise complied with the Federal Government’s directive that all data-generating organisations should harmonise their databases with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
It said that it was also consistent with the need for a credible database of all RSA holders in Nigeria with the National Identification Number (NIN) as the unique identifier.
“In that regard, PenCom designed, developed and deployed an Enhanced Contributor Registration System (ECRS).
“The ECRS which has been integrated with the NIMC database to authenticate the uniqueness of individuals seeking to register under the CPS and existing RSA holders who has not recaptured.
“Before now, RSA holders were required to physically visit their PFAs in order to recapture.
“This has not achieved the needed outcome, with many eligible RSA holders yet to be recaptured for over six years,” it said.
The commission said that the recapture process was fully online and required a phone, a computer or other devices with a camera and internet access to enable live image capture.
“The RSA holders can access the portal at https://pensionrecap.pencom.gov.ng/ and create a secure user profile using a personal email address.
“The Contributors would then complete the online data recapture form and, where applicable, upload supporting documents to validate requested updates,” it said.
It said that the process also involved biometric verification through live facial capture and the provision of a digital signature to confirm authenticity.
It said that after submission, the contributor’s PFA would review the application and take appropriate action within the defined processing period.
“Throughout this stage, RSA holders will receive a number of email notifications acknowledging receipt of their request and providing updates on approval or rejection, including reasons where applicable.
“This ensures transparency, accountability, and continuous communication,” PenCom said.
It said that the rollout of PENCAP aims to speed up the data recapture process, which has been ongoing since the launch of the ECRS but without significant progress.
It said that by providing the self-service option, it is expected that more RSA holders would be encouraged to participate due to its convenience.
The commission said that the completion of the exercise was also essential for participation in the Retiree Enrolment and Verification Exercise, and for accessing key pension transactions.
These include processing of retirement benefits, eligibility to utilise part of RSA balances as equity contribution for residential mortgages, withdrawal due to temporary job loss, and the transfer of RSAs between PFAs.
It said that eligible RSA holders who fail to complete the data recapture would not be able to access any of the aforementioned services.
“The deployment of PENCAP aligns with PenCom’s broader commitment to innovation, transparency, and operational efficiency within country’s pension industry.
“By embracing technology-driven solutions, PenCom continues to enhance public confidence in the CPS and ensures seamless access to retirement benefits,” it said.
It said that RSA holders who prefer physical recapture may still visit their PFA branches, as the self-service platform is designed to complement existing service channels.
