BU$IN£$$ DIG£$T for today 11/10/2014

On BU$IN£$$ DIG£$T this morning:
The Holy Writ says, it is with understanding a wise woman builds her home……
It also says in another portion that in all your getting, get understanding…..now hear this
UNDERSTANDING makes you OUTSTANDING in business.
It is not enough to know, but with understanding you will be able to navigate the troubled terrain of business to a harbour which is success.
I…t struck me so hard recently, that a woman/wife/mother is an Entrepreneur as she manages to succeed in her home with the resources at her disposal….Think about it

Yours-in-Entrepreneurship
Emmanuel Idenyi Shaibu Esq
The Millennium Entrepreneur
Twitter handle @EIdenyi
Like and read our fan page: www.facebook.com/emmabglobalconcept
Blog www.idenyi1.wordpress.com
Our website www.emmabglobalconcept.org under construction is almost live and it’s just for you….

Nigeria Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014

 

Subject: Highlights of the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014

Dear all,

On 01 July 2014, the President signed the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014 into law and this repeals the Pension Reform Act 2004. The new Act will continue to govern and regu…late the administration of the Contributory Pension Scheme for both the public and private sectors in Nigeria.

5 notable highlights of the Act that impacts a Retirement Savings Account holder

Upward review of the minimum rate of contribution
Section 4 (1) of the new Act reviewed upwards, the minimum rate of pension contribution from 15% to 18% of monthly emoluments, where 8% will be contributed by employee and 10% by the employer. This will provide additional benefits to employees thereby enhancing their pension benefits at retirement.

Access to contributions before age 50
The Act in section 7 (2) now allows an individual who voluntarily retires, resigns or is disengaged from employment access to 25% of his/her retirement savings account (RSA) balance if he/she is unable to secure another job within a period of 4 months. This is different from what was obtainable under the PRA 2004 where only individuals who were involuntarily disengaged from employment were entitled to access 25% benefits after remaining unemployed for 6 months.

Tax on Voluntary contribution withdrawals
Withdrawal of voluntary contributions (VC) within 5 years from the date the contributions were made is still subject to tax. However, as clarified in section 10 (4), only the income earned on the VC will be subject to tax at the point of withdrawal.
VC that is withdrawn after 5 years from the date the contribution was made will still be tax free.

Access to Mortgage
Section 89 (2) of the Act provides that a Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) may subject to guidelines issued by the National Pension Commission, apply a percentage of the pension assets in a Retirement Savings Account (RSA) towards the payment of equity contribution for a residential mortgage by a RSA holder.
We however await the issuance of guidelines for implementation of this provision from the Commission.

Punishment for defaulting employers
Section 11 (6) of the Act provides that an employer who fails to deduct or remit the contributions of its employees within 7 working days from the date salary is paid, in addition to making the remittance already due, will be liable to a penalty to be stipulated by the Commission.

Furthermore, Section 105 (1& 2) on offences under the Act empowers the National Pension Commission (PenCom), subject to the fiat of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), to institute criminal proceedings against employers who persistently fail to deduct and/or remit pension contributions of their employees.
For more information about the PRA 2014, kindly visit www.pencom.gov.ng