The brand new Chairman of the Army Pensions Board (MPB), Maj.-Gen. Julius Ehioze Osifo, on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, assumed command with a pledge to take away bureaucratic bottlenecks, deploy era and boost up the fee of pensions, gratuities and demise advantages to retired and discharged army workforce and the next-of-kin (NOK) of deceased provider participants.
He warned that delays within the fee of demise advantages to households of infantrymen killed in motion may just undermine troop morale and dishonour the sacrifices of fallen army workforce,
Osifo mentioned inefficient management that denied households their entitled advantages may just weaken the preventing spirit of troops engaged in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations.
The chairman spoke all the way through the handover and takeover rite between him and his predecessor, Air Vice Marshal Mikhail Abdulraheem, on the MPB Headquarters in Abuja.
Drawing from his operational enjoy in Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) within the North East, Osifo mentioned the army’s accountability to its workforce prolonged past their years of energetic provider to making sure that their households have been adequately catered for after their demise.
“From my private enjoy in OPHK, I will inform you outright that inefficient management resulting in default in bills of advantages to NOK of kill-in-action (KIA) workforce now not best diminishes the sacrifices of our gallant infantrymen, but additionally dishonours the reminiscence of the ones killed in motion and demoralises the preventing spirit of the ones in fight,” he mentioned.
He added that army workforce who retired or have been discharged after meritorious provider additionally deserved suggested fee in their entitlements.
Osifo mentioned the rustic’s worsening safety scenario, characterized through insurgency and terrorism within the North East, banditry within the North West and North Central, separatist violence within the South East, and militancy and oil robbery within the South South, had greater the deployment of troops on operational tasks.
Consistent with him, the sacrifices of workforce confronting those threats should be matched through an effective pension management device that promises suggested fee of entitlements to veterans and the households of fallen heroes.
He mentioned his management would prioritise the well timed processing and fee of advantages whilst making sure that reliable beneficiaries gained their entitlements with out needless delays.
“My undertaking remark shall be anchored on main a Board that may prioritise all techniques and approach to verify bills are suggested, accessed with seamless ease, much less bulky, much less bureaucratic, however with an overriding dedication to making sure best the rightful recipients get their due entitlements,” he mentioned.
Osifo confident army veterans and the households of deceased workforce that his management would paintings to reinforce their get right of entry to to advantages and scale back the difficulties related to processing claims.
To succeed in this, he mentioned the board would undertake trendy era, support collaboration with the army services and products to proactively determine beneficiaries, and boost up the processing of pensions, gratuities, and demise advantages.
He additionally pledged to deepen engagement with the Defence Headquarters, provider headquarters, the Ministry of Defence, related Nationwide Meeting committees, the Workplace of the Accountant-Normal of the Federation and the Ministry of Finance to reinforce coordination and facilitate the fee procedure.
The chairman mentioned the capability and welfare of the board’s army and civilian workforce would additionally obtain consideration, stressing {that a} well-trained and motivated team of workers used to be very important to handing over environment friendly services and products.
He promised to uphold prime moral {and professional} requirements, support coaching and make sure equity within the remedy of workforce.
“The problem to reposition the Board is a collective accountability. In view of this, I implore all officials, servicemen and girls and civilian personnel to brace up for the large activity forward. All arms should be on deck for the actualisation of my imaginative and prescient,” he mentioned.
Osifo thanked the Leader of Military Team of workers, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, for his appointment. He additionally said the jobs of the Leader of Defence Team of workers and the Minister of Defence in approving his nomination.
The brand new chairman recommended his predecessors for laying the root for the board’s construction and paid tribute to Abdulraheem, his quick predecessor and coursemate, for his provider.
He pledged to construct at the achievements of earlier administrations and reposition the board to offer suggested and environment friendly monetary services and products to army retirees and the households of deceased workforce.
The outgoing Chairman, Air Vice Marshal Mikail Abdulraheem, recommended board workforce to maintain teamwork, self-discipline and innovation to reinforce the welfare of army pensioners and their next-of-kin.
Abdulraheem mentioned the board’s mandate transcended particular person management, stressing that its good fortune depended at the collective dedication of its workforce to the welfare of retired army workforce and their beneficiaries.
“As I give up management lately, I encourage you all to increase the similar cooperation, appreciate and dedication to my route mate. Give him your fortify, percentage your concepts freely, and proceed to paintings as one workforce,” he mentioned.
“The mandate of this Board is greater than anyone, and its good fortune is determined by our talent to stay united and centered at the welfare of our army pensioners and their Subsequent-of-Family members.”
He thanked officials, women and men, in addition to the board’s civilian personnel, for his or her cooperation, willpower and fortify all the way through his tenure.
He attributed the achievements recorded below his management to their collective efforts, professionalism and willingness to paintings against not unusual targets.
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