Nigeria’s pension assets hit ₦25.9trn in August, despite market volatility

Nigeria’s pension assets under the management of Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and the supervision of the National Pension Commission (PenCom) rose to ₦25.895 trillion in August 2025, reflecting a ₦97.88 billion or 0.38% month-on-month increase from ₦25.797 trillion recorded in July.

According to PenCom’s Monthly Industry Summary for August 2025, the growth highlights the industry’s resilience and strategic positioning despite persistent market headwinds.

However, the report noted that the modest gain masks internal stresses, as Fund I and Fund II both recorded declines of ₦10.185 billion and ₦8.104 billion, respectively — underscoring that even conservative segments of pension portfolios remain exposed to market fluctuations.

PenCom’s data shows that the bulk of pension investments remain concentrated in Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) securities, which accounted for over ₦15.8 trillion across all fund categories.

Investments in infrastructure, real estate, private equity, and corporate debt instruments are also on the rise, reflecting a cautious diversification approach.

Meanwhile, the total number of Retirement Savings Account (RSA) holders increased to 10,882,661, indicating growing public participation in the contributory pension scheme.

Analysts say the ₦97.9 billion uptick demonstrates the system’s endurance amid macroeconomic and regulatory pressures.

Yet, the declines in key fund segments highlight the need for enhanced transparency, consistency, and accountability to sustain contributors’ confidence.

As the industry moves into the final quarter of 2025, stakeholders believe that beyond asset growth, the real measure of success will lie in how effectively the pension system balances performance with stability and investor trust.