Public Sector Pension Reforms and Retirement Planning Among Federal Civil Servants in Abuja

This study examines the impact of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) introduced under the Pension Reform Act on the retirement planning behaviour and welfare expectations of federal civil servants in Abuja, Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory within the North Central geopolitical zone. The CPS, which shifted pension funding from a defined-benefit to a defined-contribution model, represented a major structural shift in Nigeria's public service retirement architecture. Using a professional survey design, data were collected from 190 civil servants at various career stages across five federal ministries. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis are used to examine pension scheme awareness, contribution patterns, and projected retirement adequacy. The Life Cycle Hypothesis of Savings provides the theoretical lens, examining how retirement income expectations shape current saving and financial planning decisions. Findings indicate that while awareness of the CPS has improved, a significant proportion of civil servants, particularly those at junior grades, are concerned about the adequacy of their projected retirement benefits given low salary levels and high inflation. Pension fund administrator (PFA) performance monitoring by civil servants is rare, and financial literacy around pension account management is low. Recommendations include mandatory pre-retirement financial planning training, simplification of PFA performance reporting formats, and advocacy for upward review of employer contribution rates under the CPS. Keywords: pension reform, contributory pension scheme, retirement planning, federal civil service, Abuja.