Pension scheme plagued by gender disparity
Pension Scheme Exhibits Gender Disparity in Nigeria
By Rosemary Iriam
The Nigerian labor force participating in the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) was predominantly male in 2025, with registered male contributors reaching 8.75 million, compared to 3.47 million female subscribers, according to data from the National Pension Commission (PenCom).
This information underscores a pronounced gender disparity within the pension industry. Female contributors constituted 30.93 percent of total Retirement Savings Account (RSA) holders during the reviewed period.
PenCom indicated that while there has been a gradual increase in female participation, it remains insufficient. The commission reported that female contributors grew from 10.58 million to 14.09 million between 2015 and 2024, a 33 percent increase. However, this still falls short of the male participation, which rose from 18.75 million to 25.84 million in the same timeframe.
In 2024, female participation in the formal sector accounted for 3.95 percent of total pension contributors, down from 6.87 percent in 2015.
PenCom emphasized the necessity for inclusive policies and targeted awareness campaigns to address the ongoing gender gap in pension participation.
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