IOU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) Prof. Aliyu Dahiru Muhammad presented a talk on "Zakat on Pensions on 17th March 2026. The webinar was organized by "Access ARM Pensions" which is one of the leading Pension Fund Administrators in Nigeria.

Other speakers were Prof. Adam Abubakar, Chairman Pension Industry Non-Interest Advisory Committee, Dr. Faruk Aminu, former Commissioner of Administration in Pension Commission and Dr. Akeem Oyewole, MD Marble Capital. The discussion centered around Zakatability of Pensions of employees wherein Prof. Aliyu postulated that Zakat is applicable on pension only when the funds fulfill Shariah requirements. These include, full ownership, one year in control, reaches the minimum threshold (nisab) among others. According to him this is the position of the Islamic Fiqh Academy and Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAIOFI).

However, he noted that, if part of the pension is accessible such as voluntary pension contribution, it is zakatable once it meets other requirements. He emphasized the need for uniform nisab and using both silver and gold depending on circumstances such as low purchasing power parity, depreciation of currency against dollar among others. The webinar was highly informative and well attended by over 250 participants.