The new Chairman of the Military Pensions Board (MPB), Major General Julius Ehioze Osifo, has pledged to deploy modern technology to ensure faster payment of pensions, gratuities, death benefits and arrears to retired military personnel and families of deceased service members.
Osifo made the pledge during the handing-over ceremony between him and the outgoing chairman, Air Vice Marshal Mikhail Abdulraheem, at the board’s headquarters on Wednesday in Dutse Alhaji, Abuja.
He said his administration would build on the achievements of his predecessors by adopting technology-driven systems, strengthening coordination with the military services and improving the processing of benefits for eligible beneficiaries.
“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,” Osifo said.
The new chairman said the board would also strengthen its engagement with the Defence Headquarters, service headquarters and relevant government institutions to facilitate the identification of beneficiaries and ensure prompt processing of their entitlements.
He listed capacity building for board personnel, improved administrative procedures and effective liaison with critical stakeholders as part of the strategies to achieve his objectives.
Osifo said his experience as the pioneer Chief J8 of Operation Hadin Kai in Maiduguri, Borno State, had exposed him to the challenges associated with the administration of benefits for military personnel killed in action.
He noted that delays in paying death benefits to the next-of-kin of fallen soldiers could undermine the sacrifices of military personnel and affect the morale of troops still serving in operational theatres.
“Troops in active service, veterans and the families of the fallen deserve dignity, empathy and prompt administration of their entitled benefits,” he said.
Osifo, who becomes the 26th chairman of the board since its establishment in 1974, said he was committed to repositioning the institution to provide efficient financial services to military veterans and families of deceased personnel.
He added that his administration would promote professionalism, ethical conduct and staff development to improve service delivery.
The chairman also called on officers, soldiers and civilian staff of the board to support his administration, stressing that achieving the objectives would require collective commitment.
“I will be fair and equitable to all. I will provide a level playing field and strive to create an environment for all to enhance their capacity and fully develop their potential,” he said.
In his handover remarks, the outgoing chairman, Abdulraheem, thanked the officers, men, women and civilian staff of the board for their cooperation and dedication during his tenure.
He urged them to extend the same support to his successor, saying the board’s mandate required teamwork and a shared commitment to the welfare of military pensioners and their next-of-kin.
“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 wished Osifo a successful tenure and urged the staff to sustain the values of teamwork, discipline, innovation and service.
Matthew Abi
