In Nigeria, setting up and running businesses/companies requires that certain things are put in place in consideration of employees’ emolument. One of the key requirements according to PenCom, the country’s pension industry regulator, is the PenCom Compliance Certificate, PCC, also known as the Certificate of Compliance
A PCC is usually issued by PenCom to employers of labour mandated to participate in the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) having complied with the provisions of the PRA 2014 on pension administration of its employees.
In accordance with the provision of Pension Reform Act, PRA 2014, the PCC is a prerequisite for providing evidence of remittance of employee’s contribution for suppliers, contractors or consultants who are soliciting for contracts or business from any federal government ministries.
Read: PenCom says 10 out of 22 PFAs met N5 billion regulatory requirement
In its compliance guidelines for life insurance policy for employees and the submission of insurance certificates issued to employers, PenCom said companies with no insurance covers for their workers would no longer be allowed to do any government business.
In lieu of this, PenCom requires organizations wishing to obtain the annual Pension Clearance Certificate to forward their application to the commission along with the following documents:
- Certified list of employees as at the end of the last fiscal year by an authorized official of the organization.
- Certified rate of monthly pension contributions, specifying employer and employee rates i.e. minimum of 10% by employer and minimum of 8% by the employee.
- Evidence of remittance of monthly pension contributions for all employees showing the date of payment or remittance, names of employees, RSA Personal Identification Number (PIN) of employees, name of Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) and amount paid on behalf of employer and employer which will cover as follows: For the last 3 fiscal years – for organizations that were in existence for that period and have at least 5 staff, From the date of incorporation/registration/licencing – For organizations that have not been in existence for the last 3 fiscal years and from July 2014 to December 2016 – for organizations with 3 to 4 staff.
- Evidence of remittance of all outstanding pension contributions and penalties. This is applicable only to organizations whose pension contributions have been reviewed by PenCom or its agent and found to be culpable.
- Evidence of transfer of pension fund and assets prior to the commencement of the CPS to a licensed pension fund operator. This is applicable only to organizations that had pension arrangements before June 2004 when the CPS commenced.
- Evidence of valid Group Life Insurance Policy for employees which should include amongst others: Certificate of group life, policy document and the evidence of payment.
Read: PenCom commences payment of 2.5% pension differentials to retirees
Applicants are to note that it takes 15 working days from the date of receipt for an application to be processed. Certificates or rejections can be picked up at the offices where the applications were submitted.
Also, applicants can confirm if their applications are successful by checking the Commission’s website: www.pencom.gov.ng where the list of organisations issued Certificates is updated daily.
