Access ARM Pensions has urged Nigerian civil servants to take greater ownership of their retirement by making small, voluntary contributions to their pension accounts.

Speaking at the International Civil Service Conference held recently in Abuja, the Executive Director, Technical, Access ARM Pensions, Afolabi Folayan, said the habit of topping up Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs), no matter how little, could transform long-term financial security for workers.

The conference was themed: “Building Financial Resilience for the Nigerian Civil Service of the Future.”

Folayan challenged the idea that retirement planning should rely solely on statutory deductions. He called for a more active approach where civil servants can make micro top-ups from their phones at any time.

“Civil servants should be able to add as little as N1,000 to their pension accounts with ease,” he said. “Compound interest will do the rest over time.”

He said the reality of inflation, naira depreciation, poor financial literacy, and the pressure of extended family responsibilities after retirement makes it harder for many to save enough through mandatory deductions alone.

He acknowledged that the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) had grown to over N23.3 trillion, while expressing concerns about the heavy investment in government securities, which may not deliver strong returns in the long run.

“Retirement isn’t what it used to be,” he said. “Retirees are still supporting families, running businesses, and mentoring younger people. They face rising medical bills and still want to stay productive. The pension system must reflect that.”

He called for stronger partnerships between pension fund administrators and employers to create more accessible and flexible pension systems, ones that go beyond just savings to include financial education, healthcare, and housing support.