New Chairman of the Military Pensions Board (MPB) Maj.- Gen. Julius Osifo has pledged to ensure prompt seamless and less bureaucratic payment of pensions gratuities arrears and death benefits to retired and discharged military personnel and families of deceased service members.
Osifo made the promises during his assumption of duty at the board’s handing-over yesterday.
He assured military retirees and families of fallen personnel that their welfare would remain a priority under his leadership promising to reposition the board to improve service delivery and eliminate unnecessary delays in the payment of entitlements.
The chairman said he would focus on ensuring that benefits were processed promptly with minimal bureaucracy while maintaining safeguards to ensure that only legitimate beneficiaries received payments.
‘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’ Osifo said.
He added that veterans and families of deceased military personnel would have cause to smile under his leadership.
To achieve the objective Osifo identified the deployment of modern technology proactive identification of beneficiaries in collaboration with the military services prompt processing of benefits and stronger engagement with relevant stakeholders as key strategies.
He also pledged to strengthen the capacity of Board personnel through practical results-oriented training and uphold high ethical and professional standards.
‘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’ he said.
The chairman also underscored the importance of staff welfare promising to provide a fair and supportive working environment for military and civilian personnel to develop their skills and contribute to the Board’s objectives.
‘While I demand your commitment and dedication to duty I assure you that as your commander I will be fair and equitable to all. I will provide a level playing field and strive to create an environment for all to enhance their capacity and fully develop their potential’ he said.
The new chairman acknowledged the foundations laid by his predecessors and called on officers soldiers and civilian staff members to work collectively towards achieving the board’s mandate.
‘All hands must be on deck for the actualisation of my vision’ he said.
Osifo thanked the Minister of Defence Christopher Musa Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Olufemi Oluyede and Chief of Army Staff Lt.Gen. Waidi Shaibu for the confidence reposed in him
The Military Pensions Board is responsible for administering pension benefits and related entitlements for eligible military retirees and the families of deceased personnel.