The Military Pension Board said it had commenced the payment of the 24 months minimum wage arrears to retired personnel.
According to a report by the Punch, retired military personnel on January 5 protested at the Ministry of Finance Headquarters and Ministry of Defence to demand the payment of the minimum wage allowance among others.
Rear Admiral Saburi Lawal, Chairman of the Military Pensions Board, said to reporters on Friday in Abuja that payment of 25% of the allowance had begun and that over 90,000 retirees will be paid.
He stated that the board will assure final payment of the arrears by the end of the year, subject to funds being released by the Ministry of Finance.
Lawal said, “The Military Pensions Board wishes to inform military retirees that the Board started paying 25 per cent of the arrears of minimum wage increments to eligible military retirees on MPB payroll Thursday, February 3, 2022.
“This payment is the first out of 4 payments in instalments that will be made to all pensioners entitled to the arrears of minimum wage increment on pensions.
“Our esteemed pensioners are pleased to note that this payment in instalment arrangement is the outcome of the discussions and agreement reached between the Board and the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning for quarterly releases of the appropriated sum in the first month of each quarter.
“Thus, all things being equal, subsequent payments of the outstanding arrears will be in the months of April, July and October 2022.
“We have over 90,000 military veterans that we pay their pension. These figures represent those still alive. I’m not talking of those who have died, all the over 90,000 are going to be paid this 25 per cent.
“The Board would like to reiterate that this payment is basically for arrears of increment in pensions of military retirees who are on MPB payroll between 18 April 2019 and 30 April 2021.”
He, however, added that retired senior officers from Major General and above were excluded from the payment.
“In addition, it is pertinent to state that pensions of senior officers of the rank of Major General and above or its equivalents are not affected by the consequential adjustments on pensions occasioned by the new National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2019. Hence, they are not entitled to the 24 months minimum wage arrears,” Lawal said.
He also said all Next of Kins of deceased military pensioners eligible for these arrears would be paid the minimum wage increments together with the shortfall of the death benefits earlier paid to them.