Military Pensions Board Begins Payment Of Pension Arrears

The Military Pensions Board on Tuesday in Abuja flagged off  the payment of  pension arrears to retired and discharged military personnel.  Our correspondent reports that the arrears had been outstanding since 2003 when the federal government increased workers salaries.

Speaking at  the occasion, the Chairman of the board, Brig.-Gen. Bitrus Kwaji, said that all outstanding claims of retirement and death benefits administered by the board  had been paid.

He said the e-payment policy of government had made it possible for the board to pay monthly pension on or before the 25th of every month. Kwaji said the days when military retirees waited for years under the bridges and on the streets in major cities before being paid were over. 

 “This unfortunate situation caused a lot of embarrassment to successive governments.

“Today, we are happy to report that the observed lapses have been gradually and systematically addressed in the last few years,” he said.

Kwaji said that the introduction of  biometrics into the military pension database had eliminated duplications.

Commenting on the development, one of the beneficiaries, John Opiughie, a Master Warrant Officer, who was discharged in 2008, described the exercise as commendable.