The newly appointed Chairman of the Military Pensions Board, Major General Julius Osifo, has pledged to ensure prompt payment of pensions, gratuities, death benefits and other entitlements to retired military personnel and families of fallen soldiers.
Osifo made the commitment on Wednesday during the handover ceremony at the board’s headquarters in Abuja, following the completion of his predecessor Air Vice Marshal Mikhail Abdulraheem’s tenure.
The new chairman said his administration would prioritise the welfare of military veterans and the families of personnel who died in the line of duty by making benefit payments faster, easier to access and less bureaucratic.
He stressed that delays in paying death benefits to families of soldiers killed in action could undermine the sacrifices of fallen personnel and negatively affect the morale of troops still serving in operational areas.
According to Osifo, inefficient administration and delayed payments not only dishonour the memories of deceased servicemen but also create concerns among serving personnel about the welfare of their families.
He added that retired and discharged military personnel deserved the same level of attention and commitment from the board.
Osifo, who became the 26th chairman of the Military Pensions Board, said he would build on the achievements of previous administrations while introducing technology-driven measures to improve pension management.
He explained that the board would strengthen collaboration with the various military services and relevant institutions to identify beneficiaries proactively, process claims promptly and ensure that legitimate recipients receive their entitlements without unnecessary delays.
The chairman also pledged to improve the training and motivation of board personnel, noting that a competent workforce would be essential to delivering efficient pension services.
His commitment comes amid recent concerns raised by military veterans over pension adjustments and the calculation of retirement benefits, with some retirees demanding greater transparency and consistency in payments.
Osifo said his ultimate objective was to reposition the board to provide seamless and timely payments to veterans and the families of fallen heroes.
Meanwhile, his predecessor, Abdulraheem, urged officers, soldiers and civilian staff of the board to maintain unity and support the new leadership, stressing that the institution’s mandate must remain focused on the welfare of military pensioners and their next of kin.
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