Ogun Govt Launches ‘I Am Alive’ Online Pension Verification for Retirees

OGUN STATE – The Ogun State Government has rolled out a digital lifeline for its retirees, launching the “I Am Alive” online verification exercise to ensure pension payments reach only living beneficiaries and ease bureaucratic hurdles.

Announced by the Bureau of State Pensions under the Office of the Head of Service, the initiative kicks off on Monday, March 9, 2026, and runs through Friday, May 8, 2026. Mrs. Arinola Adetayo, Permanent Secretary of the Bureau and Chairman of the Pension Fund Management Committee, signed the official statement, emphasizing the exercise’s role in verifying retirees’ status to enhance their post-service welfare.

“This verification is a commitment to transparency and efficiency in our pension system,” Mrs. Adetayo stated. “It helps eliminate ghost pensioners, ensuring funds go directly to those who served our state faithfully.”

Simple Steps for Seamless Verification

Retirees on the Ogun State pension payroll – including those from state and local government services – can complete the process from their smartphones without visiting any office. Here’s how:

• Download the OGUN STATE PENSIONERS APP from Google Play Store (Android) or Apple App Store (iOS).
• Open the app, select “Set Up,” and input your Personal Enrollment Number (PEN) and registered phone number.
• Submit details, then follow on-screen prompts, including snapping a live photograph for biometric confirmation.
• Receive instant verification status via SMS or app notification.

The app incorporates facial recognition technology, building on successful pilots from 2023-2025 verifications that cleared over 15,000 retirees and saved millions in fraudulent payouts, according to Bureau records and reports from Punch Nigeria.

Broader Context and Support

This exercise aligns with Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration’s pension reforms, which have accrued N50 billion in pension liabilities since 2020 while clearing backlogs for pre-2006 retirees. Past exercises, like the 2024 biometric enrollment, faced initial tech glitches but ultimately onboarded 98% of eligible pensioners digitally.

For assistance, retirees can call the Bureau’s helpline at 08099999888 or email pensionbureau@ogunstate.gov.ng. Mrs. Adetayo urged prompt participation: “This window is your opportunity to secure uninterrupted pensions. Delays risk payment suspension.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Non-compliance after May 8 could halt monthly stipends, a measure echoed in similar nationwide efforts by states like Lagos and Rivers to curb pension fraud amid Nigeria’s rising retirement population.

Ogun’s 50,000+ pensioners stand to benefit from this tech-driven push, reflecting the state’s digital governance agenda.