Delays in death benefits demoralise troops — New Military Pensions Boss

The newly appointed 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 weaken troop morale and diminish the sacrifices of fallen personnel.
Speaking during the handover ceremony in Abuja on Wednesday, Osifo said improving the speed and efficiency of pension and benefit payments would be a key priority of his administration.
The new chairman pledged reforms aimed at reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks and ensuring that retired military personnel and families of deceased servicemen receive their entitlements without unnecessary delays.
“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.
Osifo, the 26th chairman of the board, noted that similar attention would be given to the welfare of personnel who have retired or been discharged from the Armed Forces.
He said the board would deploy technology and strengthen cooperation with the military services to identify beneficiaries more proactively and accelerate the processing of pensions, gratuities and other entitlements.
According to him, improved staff capacity and a more efficient administrative system are essential to achieving the board’s mandate and restoring confidence among military veterans and bereaved families.
“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.
He succeeds Air Vice Marshal Mikhail Abdulraheem, who completed his tenure as chairman of the board.
In his valedictory remarks, Abdulraheem urged officers, soldiers and civilian staff to support the new leadership, stressing that the board’s effectiveness depends on collective commitment to the welfare of pensioners and their next of kin.
The leadership transition comes as stakeholders continue to push for more efficient administration of military pensions and benefits for both retired personnel and families of those who died in service.