Short answer: According to the National Pension Commission (PenCom) – the body that regulates pensions in Nigeria – employers must remit employee and employer pension contributions within seven (7) working days after salary payment. Failure to remit attracts penalties of not less than 2% of the unpaid contribution for each month the default continues. Use an approved remittance channel and an employer portal to avoid fines and employee disputes.

Why this matters now

Earlier this year, PenCom refreshed the rules on pension remittances and introduced a new contribution system. By June 1, 2025, every employer was expected to be fully on board. What does this mean for you as an employer? Simply put, by now, all employers should already be using the approved process. If you’re not, you may hit roadblocks, like being unable to submit pension schedules or getting saddled with penalties that could have been avoided. 

1) The rule — exactly and simply

• The Pension Reform Act and PenCom guidance require employers to remit employee and employer pension contributions no later than seven (7) working days after salaries are paid. That is the statutory deadline you must meet each payroll cycle. 

2) The risk — fines, interest, and damaged trust

• PenCom penalties for late remittance are not less than 2% of the unpaid amount for each month the default continues. That penalty is additive monthly until remittance is made. This is the primary financial risk. 
• Separate enforcement actions and fines have been applied to employers historically. PenCom fines have been material in aggregate across employers. Non-remittance also exposes employers to reputational and legal risk, and may trigger regulatory enforcement that affects business operations. 

3) The solution — step-by-step using Parthian Pensions Employer Portal

Goal: Remit on time, produce audit trail, reduce manual errors.

Step 0 — Prepare before payday

• Run payroll and reconcile gross pay, statutory deductions and employer contributions.
• Confirm each employee’s RSA number and PFA code.

Step 1 — Generate pension schedule

• Export an electronic pension schedule from your payroll system or use the Parthian Employer Portal’s upload template.
• Validate employee RSAs and contribution amounts against PFAs before submission.

Step 2 — Make payment via approved channel

• Use Parthian Pensions Employer Portal to initiate payments through PenCom-approved channels and PSSPs. PenCom launched a Pension Contribution Remittance System in 2025. The system became operational earlier in 2025 and PenCom set 1 June 2025 as the deadline for employers to transition to the approved remittance channels (approved PSSPs). After that date remittances must be made through the approved channels. Ensure your organisation remits through an approved payment gateway to avoid rejections. 

Step 3 — Confirm and archive

• Obtain remittance confirmation and transaction IDs. Save digital receipts and the submitted pension schedule. The portal produces immediate confirmation and sends the PFA notice where applicable.

Step 4 — Reconcile and report

• Reconcile bank debits to portal confirmations the same payroll week. If there is any discrepancy, raise a query with Parthian Pensions support immediately and keep a written record.

How Parthian Employer Portal helps

• Automated schedule templates that match PenCom format.
• Real-time validation of RSA numbers and PFA codes.
• Payment orchestration through approved PSSPs so your remittances route cleanly.
• Instant receipts and consolidated audit trail for compliance and audits.
• Alerts and calendar reminders for the 7-working-day deadline.

Quick compliance checklist for HR / Payroll

• Are all employee RSA numbers current and validated?
• Did payroll run include employer contribution (10%) and employee deduction (8%)? (Confirm amounts per employee.)
• Was the pension schedule uploaded and validated before the 7 working days deadline? 
• Did you receive remittance confirmation and save the transaction ID?
• Is there a standing process to reconcile within 2 business days of remittance?

Book a 30-minute onboarding with Parthian Employer Support.

Final note to HR leads and SMEs

This is not just a payroll process. It’s regulatory duty and employee trust. Put the remittance flow on autopilot. Use a validated employer portal, reconcile immediately, and treat remittance confirmation as a payroll control. If you want, Parthian Pensions can run a 30-minute compliance health check for your payroll team and set up your portal.