New Military Pensions Board Chairman Promises Faster Payments to Retirees

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L-R: Major General Julius E. Osifo, new Chairman Military Pensions Board, taking over from his predecessor, Air Vice Marshal Mikail Abdulraheen at the Handing and Taking Over Ceremony at the Board Office in Abuja, on Wednesday.

By Odita Sunday

The new Chairman of the Military Pensions Board (MPB), Major General Julius Ehioze Osifo, has pledged to make pension payments faster and less cumbersome for retired military personnel and families of deceased service members.

Osifo gave the assurance on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, during his formal assumption of office, promising to reduce bureaucratic delays in the payment of pensions, gratuities, arrears and death benefits.

He said his leadership would prioritise the welfare of military veterans and the next-of-kin of deceased personnel, stressing that beneficiaries should receive their entitlements promptly and without unnecessary administrative hurdles.

“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,” he said.

The chairman added that retired personnel and families who lost loved ones in military service should have renewed confidence in the pension administration system.

“Under my watch as Chairman, MPB, our veterans and family members of deceased personnel will have cause to smile,” he assured.

To achieve the objective, Osifo identified the use of modern technology, early identification of beneficiaries in collaboration with the Services, faster processing of claims and stronger engagement with relevant stakeholders as key priorities.

He also promised to improve staff capacity through practical training and ensure that personnel maintain high ethical and professional standards in handling pension-related matters.

According to him, repositioning the Board would require a technically competent workforce capable of delivering prompt and seamless payments to veterans and bereaved families.

Osifo further emphasised the importance of staff welfare, pledging to create a fair and supportive working environment for both military and civilian employees.

He said motivated personnel were essential to effective service delivery and urged staff to demonstrate commitment and dedication to the Board’s responsibilities.

Before his appointment, Osifo served as Director-General of the Nigerian Army Finance Corporation. He previously worked as Deputy Director of Accounts at the Military Pensions Board in 2018, giving him prior experience in the institution he now leads.

His other appointments include Registrar, Deputy Commandant and Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration, Director of Finance at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre in Oshodi, and pioneer Chief J8 of Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI in Maiduguri.

Between 2012 and 2015, he served as Deputy Defence Attaché at Nigeria’s Embassy in Washington, DC, where he contributed to efforts to strengthen defence relations between Nigeria and the United States.

Academically, the new chairman holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Economics from the University of Jos, as well as a PhD in Finance. His doctoral research examined defence budgeting and military operational capacity in Africa, using Nigeria as a case study.

He also attended Senior Executive Course 39 at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, and serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Ibadan’s Institute of Peace, Security and Humanitarian Studies, where he teaches conflict management, security, defence finance and budgeting.

Acknowledging the work of previous chairmen, Osifo said he would build on the foundations they had laid and called on officers, soldiers and civilian staff to work together towards improving the Board’s performance.

He also expressed appreciation to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, the Chief of Defence Staff and the Minister of Defence for their support and confidence in his appointment.

“I pledge to perform my duties with utmost dedication and commitment and to Service,” he said.

The Military Pensions Board is responsible for administering pension-related entitlements for eligible retired and discharged military personnel, as well as benefits due to the families of deceased service members.

For pensioners and bereaved families, the new chairman’s pledge places the spotlight on whether the promised reforms will translate into shorter waiting periods, more efficient claims processing and timely payment of benefits.