Saturday 5 January 2013

Pension operators invest over N1.8 tr in Fed Govt’s securities

Chuks Udo Okonta


Over N1.8 trillion pension funds has been invested by operators in Federal Government securities Inspen has learnt.

The information obtained from the National Pension Commission (PenCom) noted that the amount represents over 61 per cent of the about N3 trillion so far contributed by workers.

The commission noted that over N370 billion (13 percent) has been invested in money market, while N335 billion (12 per cent) was invested in ordinary share and real estate got N167.89 billion (six per cent).

It said state government securities got N109.24 (four per cent), corporate debt security got N72.10 billion (two per cent), unquoted securities N24.67 billion (one per cent) and other investment portfolio N23.49 billion (one per cent).

It noted that the regulation on investment of pension fund assets was revised to expand the allowable investment outlets to include alternative asset classes such as: Private Equity (PE) funds, infrastructure financing (Debt instruments and funds), supranational bonds, amongst others.

The commission said it would continue to review investment regulations, adding that multiple funds would be established and ethical fund introduced, adding that its guidelines on offshore investment being worked out to encourage operators explore foreign investment windows.

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