The immediate past Director-General of the National Pension Commission, Hajiya Aishat Dahiru-Umar has expressed satisfaction with the numerous achievements recorded by the Commission under her leadership in the past seven years.
She said this in valedictory message to members of staff of the Commission dated July 13,2024, and obtained by NewsNGR.
Dahiru-Umar was named the Acting DG of Pencom in April 2017, following the removal of Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu from office.
Dahiru-Umar piloted the affairs of the Commission in acting capacity between April 2017 and October 2020 when she was named as the substantive DG of Pencom by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The ‘iron lady,’ a name given to her as a result of her doggedness was subsequently confirmed by the Senate following series of reforms that she implemented during the three years that she acted as PenCom DG.
It was during that period that she turned the once moribund government agency into a prospective organization that was determined to deliver on its mandate in line with the pension act.
Her appointment by Buhari after COVID in 2020 came with many reforms that had repositioned and redefined the operations of Pension Fund Administrators and Pension Fund Custodians in line with the vision of government for the pension industry.
Dahiru-Umar, upon assumption of office, quickly moved away from the analogue way of operation, and holistically automated the entire process and systems of the commission in line with government’s new order, prevailing situations and the best practices across the world.
With the new reforms matched with transparency and accountability in the management of pensioners funds, there was a geometric progression of pension funds assets which saw a growth of N13.3tn from N6.4tn in 2017 to N19.7trn as of March 31,2024.
This represents an increase of 2,078 per cent during the seven years that Dahiru-Umar presided over the helms of affairs at the Commission.
In the farewell letter, she acknowledged the individual and collective contributions of members of staff to the attainment of the feats recorded by the Commission during the period they worked together.
She also commended their dedication, resilience and belief in her vison for the pension industry, noting that it has been an honor to lead this journey.
The former PenCom boss said she is immensely proud of all that the commission has accomplished under her watch.
She wrote, “As you are aware, the Federal Government has, on Saturday 13 July, 2024, announced the nominee to the office of the Director General of the National Pension Commission. This marks the end of my tenure as the Director General of the Commission. Thus, as soon as the nominee is confirmed by the Senate, she would assume duties in the Commission.
“Therefore, I use this medium to acknowledge the individual and collective contributions of members of staff to the attainment of the feats recorded by the Commission during the period we have worked together. I earnestly commend your dedication, resilience and belief in our vison.
“Certainly, it has been an honor to lead this journey, and I am immensely proud of all that we have accomplished together.
Indeed, when I reflect on our journey together, I remember the countless challenges we have overcome and the successes we have achieved. Together, we have weathered storms, embraced changes and navigated uncharted territories.
“We have learned from our mistakes, adapted to new technologies and embraced a culture of continuous improvement. In the face of adversity, we have shown resilience and the ability to rise above any challenge that came our way. In this respect, our collective achievements have not only positively impacted our organization but also touched the lives of our primary stakeholders (the pension contributors and retirees), the licensed pension operators and indeed, many individuals and organizations associated with the Nigerian pension industry.
“Thus, as I pass the torch to a new Director General, I feel fulfilled that I am leaving behind for the Commission, a firm legacy of organizational culture that fosters transparency, collaboration, innovation and relentless pursuit of excellence. I am very confident that the seeds we have sown will continue to grow, flourish and bear fruit in the hands of our successors.
“As I bid farewell, therefore, I am optimistic that the memories, friendship and invaluable experiences we had together in the course of time will forever bind us. May our future endeavors be filled with success, joy and fulfillment. Thank you, dear colleagues, goodbye and God bless.”