By Emmanuel Thomas l Friday, August 14, 2026
PORT HARCOURT — In a proactive step toward guaranteeing long-term financial security for its workforce, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has advised its employees across all cadres to embrace structured pension schemes and comprehensive financial planning options to safeguard their lives after active service.
The charge was delivered during a Commission-wide Staff Interactive Session tagged Pension Managers and Client Information Update, held at the NDDC Headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The sensitisation exercise was specifically organized to deepen employee awareness regarding retirement savings, statutory pension provisions, and wealth management strategies.
Speaking at the event, the Director of Administration and Human Resources, Sir Kelechi Nwelue, disclosed that the initiative was approved by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku. According to Nwelue, the management saw an urgent need to enlighten staff—particularly newly recruited personnel—on the intricacies of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and enable them to make informed, independent choices regarding their preferred Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).
Nwelue noted that many fresh entrants into the public service often lack essential insights into how pension deductions and employer matching contributions operate. He stressed that pension contributions are strictly long-term savings mechanisms designed to create a safety net for workers once their active working years conclude.
”Pension administrators are responsible for managing the statutory deductions from employees’ monthly salaries alongside the matching contributions provided by the employer,” Nwelue explained.
“These accumulated funds are long-term investments meant to ensure that no employee leaves active service into financial vulnerability. We encourage every staff member to evaluate the options presented by the various pension managers and select administrators that best guarantee the safety and growth of their funds.”
He added that the interactive platform offered participating PFAs a transparent environment to explain their financial products, yield rates, customer care policies, and investment portfolios directly to the workforce without administrative bias.
Echoing these views, Mr. James Fole, a Director in the NDDC Directorate of Administration and Human Resources, highlighted the necessity of exposing public servants to the legal frameworks governing pension, life insurance, and secondary financial instruments early in their careers.
Fole warned against the common pitfall of delayed retirement planning, observing that several public sector workers suffer severe financial disruptions shortly before or after leaving active service simply due to poor preparation during their peak earning years.
“That uncomfortable reality is not what the Managing Director, the Executive Management, or the entire leadership of the NDDC desires for our staff,” Fole remarked. “Our vision is to foster an environment where NDDC retirees enjoy an impressive level of financial independence and personal comfort, knowing that the Commission adequately supported their transition. That is the core objective this interactive session seeks to deliver.”
The event featured presentations from representatives of major licensed Pension Fund Administrators and insurance institutions, who guided staff through account updates, documentation requirements, micro-pension options, and annuity plans.
