Military Pensions Board will soon clear 24 months of arrears – Chairman

The Military Pensions Board (MPB) promised on Wednesday that once the fiscal year 2022 budget is passed and signed by Mr. President, the 24 months of minimum wage pension arrears will be cleared.
In response to Wednesday morning protests by members of some military veteran groups, the Board stated this.

The MFB, in a press release signed by its Chairman, Commodore S. A. Lawal, urged the pensioners to stop agitating because their demands are being addressed by government agencies.

“Our esteemed military retirees will recall that in May 2021, the MPB notified them through a press release of my discussions with the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning (FMFBNP) regarding payment of all outstanding entitlements of military retirees as a result of the consequential adjustments on pensions occasioned by the New Minimum Wage Act, 2019,” according to the Chairman.

“In June 2021, my Ministry engagements paid off when funds were released to the Board for the payment of shortfalls in military retiree gratuities who retired/discharged from the Services between 18 April 2019 and 30 April 2021, as well as the implementation of the new pensions pay chart.”

“As a result, as directed by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the shortfall in gratuities to deserving retired/discharged personnel was paid in July 2021, while all active retirees were placed on their new pension pay scale WEF May 2021.”

“It is in this light that I would like to inform our esteemed retirees that the funds for payment of the 24 month minimum wage pension arrears to military pensioners are included in the Board’s year 2022 budget estimates, which are currently being considered by the National Assembly.”

“Furthermore, I am pleased to inform our esteemed retirees that the Board’s budget estimates for the year 2022 have been successfully defended before relevant National Assembly committees.”

“As a result, I’d like to take this opportunity to inform and reassure all of our valued retirees that payments of the outstanding 24 months minimum wage pension arrears will begin once the fiscal year 2022 budget is passed and signed by Mr. President.”

“In light of these developments, the MPB wishes to reassure our valued military retirees, NOKs, and other well-meaning Nigerians that the Board remains committed to paying all entitlements due to military retirees or their NOKs as soon as possible.”

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Our retirees are urged to continue to show greater patience and understanding, and to refrain from participating in any public protests or demonstrations while the issues at hand are being addressed.

“Additionally, in light of the current security situation in the country and the spread of a new variant of the COVID-19 Virus, military pensioners and other stakeholders in the administration of military pensions should discourage gatherings of any kind in the name of protests of any kind.”