Ex-service men seek Osinbajo’s intervention on pensions

• Wants probe of Military Pensions Board

Worried by the continued delay in the settlement of their accrued pensions arrears, ex-service men have appealed to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to resolve their lingering plight.

The retired officers under the auspices of Retired Army, Navy and Air Force Officers’ Association of Nigeria (RANAO), demanded the probe of Military Pensions Board, which they accused of foul play.

They said the investigation would unravel the stubbing blocks against the payment of their entitlements

A statement by its National Publicity Officer, Captain Yusuf Abdulmalik (rtd.) in Kano said that in spite of several appeals and protests by the pensioners to demand the 53.37 per cent increase in the Armed Forces salary structure directed since July 2010, nothing has been done.

“The lingering pension arrears started in 2010 when former President Goodluck Jonathan approved the implementation of Consolidated Salary Structure for the Armed Forces. While the serving officers enjoyed theirs almost immediately, the retired officers were denied the 53 per cent increase for about three years.

“The Military Pensions Board ignored the presidential directive for three years and that was after we embarked on several protests and agitations. The board found it necessary to effect the implementation of 33 per cent of the 53.37 per cent in August 2013, claiming that 20.37 per cent are deduction for military housing scheme and taxation.

“We wrote back that ex-service men did not pay tax and in the case of the housing scheme, we are not aware of any house built on behalf of military pensioners,” the statement said.

Abdulmalik, therefore, appealed to the Federal Government to refund the 20.37 per cent deductions with effect from July 2010 and upfront payment the 33 per cent arrears to make meaningful use of the resources instead of the quarterly release.