News
PenCom & NPAN Team Up to Enhance Media Pension Compliance
The National Pension Commission (PenCom) says it will forge a strategic partnership with the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) to ensure compliance of pension remittance by managers of media organisations in Nigeria.
Director General of the National Pension Commission, Ms. Omolola Oloworaran, made the disclosure in Abuja when she led her management team on a courtesy visit to the President of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Malam Kabiru Yusuf, on Monday.
She said the purpose of the visit was to seek support for the compliance within the media sector to conform to the Pension Reform Act of 2014, which mandates that all employers must remit pension contributions for their employers on a monthly basis within seven days.
Accordingly, the DG highlighted that the mandate of PenCom is to enforce and ensure full compliance with the Act and as part of the drive for compliance, the commission has been having several meetings with employers across the country, while noting that many media houses are not remitting pension for their staff as employers currently owe over N700 million in pension remittance.
“A couple of weeks ago, we met with the Press Council as well to help us in this drive to ensure compliance with the Pension Reform Act.
What we do in PenCom is we try to engage employers and get all employers to be compliant with the Act by ensuring that everyone is contributing towards the financial security of their staff.
So, we are the watchdogs to enforce that. Unfortunately, it’s been a tall task particularly within the media sector.
“The findings are very troubling because based on the investigations we’ve done, the media houses are owing pension contributions to the tune of N720million.
That’s a whole lot. “It seems to me like a number of them don’t even bother to pay at all. And it’s striking because we hold the media in high esteem in society.
And like I said, the media helps to shape national discourse and we hope and assume that at least they will be leading in the case of contributing pensions for their workers,” she added.
She, however, commended Media Trust Group for being the sole media outfit that has been compliant with remitting staff pension into their Retirement Savings Account (RSA).
“I must first of all commend the Media Trust Group because they have essentially been leading by example in this area. You’ve been compliant since 2015.
She reiterated that the purpose of the visit was not focused on being punitive but to seek NPAN’s collaboration towards financial security of workers
In his response, the President of NPAN who also doubles as the Chairman Board of Directors of Media Trust Group, Malam Kabiru Yusuf, noted that newspaper houses are struggling to survive as many cannot pay salaries, let alone remit pension.
“The industry is in deep trouble. Maybe that is partly why this compliance is not happening. I do know for a fact that many newspapers cannot even pay their obligation to their staff,” he noted.T
o address the situation, He said “We have a super group called the Nigerian Press Organisation which is made up of the NPAN, the Nigerian Guild of Editors and the Nigerian Union of Journalists.
We work together sometimes. So, it is important to arrange a meeting with all these associations and chart a way forward,” he explained.
He proposed that the meeting be slated in August or September to interface with PenCom to find a lasting solution to pension remittance in the media industry.
News
NAFDAC : Fake Cowbell Milk in circulation
Risks include foodborne illnesses, allergic reactions, and organ damage, and in severe cases, death.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) advises Nigerians to be vigilant and avoid purchasing counterfeit 12g Cowbell “Our Milk” sachets circulating across the country.
In a statement issued on Friday, the agency explained that the counterfeit product imitates the discontinued Cowbell “Our Milk” packaging, which Promasidor Nigeria Ltd stopped producing in September 2023.
The legitimate product was replaced with Cowbell “Our Creamy Goodness.”
The fake sachets unlawfully bear the Cowbell brand name, NAFDAC registration number and packaging design, despite not being manufactured or distributed by Promasidor.
The counterfeit products currently in circulation are imitations of the discontinued ‘Our Milk’ packaging and are not manufactured or distributed by Promasidor,” the agency stated.
“They bear unauthorised use of the brand name, NAFDAC Registration Number, and packaging design.”
The regulator raised concerns over the health risks posed by the counterfeit product.
“Risk Statement: Consumption of counterfeit milk poses serious health hazards, including exposure to toxic chemicals, unapproved additives, or diluted ingredients.
Risks include foodborne illnesses, allergic reactions, and organ damage, and in severe cases, death.
Infants, children, pregnant women, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable,” NAFDAC warned.
News
Japan designates the city of Kisarazu for Nigerians to live and work
Through this arrangement, we aim to strengthen exchanges and create a foundation for manpower development that will contribute to economic growth in both Japan and Nigeria,” said Mrs. Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, Nigeria’s Charge d’Affaires and Acting Ambassador to Japan.
The Japanese government has designated the city of Kisarazu as the official “hometown” for Nigerians seeking to live and work in Japan
Japan also unveiled similar hometown designations for Tanzania, Ghana, and Mozambique in Nagai, Sanjo, and Imabari, respectively.
The announcement was made on the sidelines of the 9th Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD9), a move aimed at deepening cultural diplomacy, promoting economic growth, and enhancing workforce productivity.
Under the new arrangement, the Japanese government will introduce a special visa category for highly skilled, innovative, and talented Nigerian youth. Artisans and other blue-collar workers willing to upskill will also be eligible to live and work in Kisarazu under the special visa dispensation.
“Through this arrangement, we aim to strengthen exchanges and create a foundation for manpower development that will contribute to economic growth in both Japan and Nigeria,” said Mrs. Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, Nigeria’s Charge d’Affaires and Acting Ambassador to Japan.
The designation of Kisarazu builds on historical ties between Nigeria and the city.
The Nigerian Olympic contingent trained in Kisarazu during preparations for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where athletes acclimatised before moving to the Olympic Village.
Mayor Yoshikuni Watanabe of Kisarazu, who received the certificate from the Japanese government alongside Mrs. Adeseke, expressed optimism that the initiative would boost the city’s population and contribute to regional revitalisation efforts.
The three tiers of government—federal, state, and local—shared a total of N2.001 trillion from the Federation Account as revenue for the month of July 2025, according to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
The allocation was made during the FAAC meeting held in August 2025 in Abuja, with details released in an official communiqué.
The distributable revenue included:
- N1.282 trillion in statutory revenue
- N640.610 billion from Value Added Tax (VAT)
- N37.601 billion from Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL)
- N39.745 billion from exchange rate difference
Out of the total distributed funds:
- The Federal Government received N735.081 billion
- State Governments received N660.349 billion
- Local Government Councils received N485.039 billion
- N120.359 billion was shared to oil-producing states as 13% derivation revenue
Revenue Breakdown:
Statutory Revenue (N1.282 trillion):
- FG: N613.805 billion
- States: N311.330 billion
- LGs: N240.023 billion
- 13% Derivation: N117.714 billion
VAT (N640.610 billion):
- FG: N96.092 billion
- States: N320.305 billion
- LGs: N224.214 billion
EMTL (N37.601 billion):
- FG: N5.640 billion
- States: N18.801 billion
- LGs: N13.160 billion
Exchange Gains (N39.745 billion):
- FG: N19.544 billion
- States: N9.913 billion
- LGs: N7.643 billion
- 13% Derivation: N2.643 billion
The total gross revenue for July was N3.836 trillion, down from N3.485 trillion in June. Cost of collection deductions amounted to N152.681 billion, while N1.683 trillion was allocated for transfers, refunds, savings, and interventions.
FAAC noted improved collections from Petroleum Profit Tax, Oil and Gas Royalties, EMTL, and Excise Duties, while Companies Income Tax and CET Levies declined slightly. VAT and Import Duties saw marginal growth.
The committee reiterated its commitment to ensuring transparency in the allocation of national revenues across all levels of government.
NAFDAC : Fake Cowbell Milk in circulation
Japan designates the city of Kisarazu for Nigerians to live and work
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