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Major General Julius Ehioze Osifo has assumed leadership of the Military Pensions Board with a pledge to strengthen the administration of retirement benefits for former members of the Nigerian Armed Forces and families of personnel who died while serving the country.
Osifo made the commitment after taking over from Air Vice Marshal Mikhail Abdulraheem at a ceremony held at the board’s headquarters in Abuja. His appointment places him in charge of an institution responsible for administering pension-related benefits to military retirees and other eligible beneficiaries.
The new chairman said the sacrifices made by military personnel must be matched with effective support after their years of service. He stressed that pensioners and bereaved families should not face avoidable difficulties when seeking benefits to which they are entitled.
Osifo particularly highlighted the circumstances of families who lose their loved ones during military operations, noting that delays in receiving financial benefits could worsen their hardship. He drew on his experience in Operation Hadin Kai to emphasise the importance of ensuring that the welfare of fallen soldiers’ dependants receives appropriate attention.
As part of his plans, the chairman intends to improve the use of technology in pension administration and strengthen collaboration with relevant military institutions. These measures are expected to improve the handling of beneficiaries’ records, facilitate the processing of claims and reduce administrative complications.
He also identified staff competence as an important factor in achieving better results, pledging to support professional development and improve the effectiveness of the board’s workforce.
Osifo’s assumption of office comes with expectations that the board will continue to improve its services to retired personnel and eligible families. He said his administration would build on previous efforts while pursuing changes that would make pension administration more responsive to beneficiaries’ needs.
Abdulraheem, who handed over leadership, expressed appreciation to the personnel who worked with him during his tenure and encouraged them to support the new chairman. He maintained that cooperation among staff members would remain essential to the board’s ability to discharge its responsibilities effectively.
