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From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The new Chairman of the Military Pensions Board (MPB), Major General Julius Osifo, has warned that delays in paying death benefits to families of soldiers killed in action could demoralise troops on the frontlines and undermine the sacrifices of fallen military personnel.
Osifo, who gave the warning while assuming office at the board’s headquarters in Abuja, pledged to eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic bottlenecks and ensure prompt payment of pensions, gratuities, death benefits and other entitlements to retired military personnel and families of deceased soldiers.
Speaking at the handover ceremony by his predecessor, Air Vice Marshal Mikhail Abdulraheem, the new chairman described the timely payment of entitlements as more than an administrative responsibility, stressing that it was an obligation to those who had served the country and their dependants.
Drawing from his experience in Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Osifo warned that failure to promptly pay benefits to the next of kin (NOK) of soldiers killed in action (KIA) could erode the confidence and fighting spirit of personnel engaged in military operations.
“From my personal experience in OPHK, I can tell you outright that inefficient administration leading to default in payments of benefits to NOK of KIA not only diminishes the sacrifices of our gallant soldiers, but also dishonours the memory of those killed in action and demoralises the fighting spirit of those in combat,” he said.
He pledged to reposition the board to ensure that veterans and families of fallen soldiers received their entitlements promptly, without unnecessary administrative hurdles, while maintaining safeguards against fraudulent claims.
“My mission statement will be anchored on leading a Board that will prioritise all ways and means to ensure payments are prompt, accessed with seamless ease, less cumbersome, less bureaucratic, but with an overriding commitment to ensuring only the rightful recipients get their due entitlements,” he said.
Osifo disclosed that his administration would deploy modern technology to improve pension administration, strengthen collaboration with the armed services and introduce measures for the early identification and verification of beneficiaries.
He said proactive identification of eligible recipients, prompt processing of claims and improved coordination among relevant institutions would be central to eliminating delays in the payment of benefits.
“The implementation strategies for the attainment of this mission statement include leveraging smart systems of contemporary technology, effective liaison with the Services for proactive identification of beneficiaries, prompt processing of benefits and enhanced capacity building of MPB personnel,” he said.
The chairman also promised to prioritise the training, welfare and motivation of the board’s personnel, noting that an efficient and motivated workforce was essential to improving service delivery and restoring confidence in military pension administration.
He said his administration would build on the achievements of previous leaderships while introducing technological and administrative reforms to make the processing and payment of entitlements faster, more transparent and accessible.
“My desired end state is to reposition the MPB to be technically proficient towards the optimisation of my vision of prompt and seamless payments to veterans and families of fallen heroes,” Osifo said.
Earlier, the outgoing chairman, Abdulraheem, commended the board’s officers, soldiers and civilian personnel for their cooperation and support during his tenure.
He urged them to extend the same commitment to his successor, stressing that the board’s effectiveness depended on teamwork, professionalism and a shared determination to protect the welfare of military pensioners and their families.
“The mandate of this Board is bigger than any individual and its success depends on our ability to remain united and focused on the welfare of our military pensioners and their Next-of-Kin,” Abdulraheem said.
He expressed confidence in Osifo’s ability to sustain the board’s operations and improve the administration of pensions and other benefits for retired military personnel and families of fallen soldiers.
