The Military Pensions Board (MPB) and military veterans have agreed on transparent engagement and clarification of pension computations following complaints over the recent consequential adjustment.

The agreement was reached at an interactive session between the chairman of the MPB, Mikail Abdulraheem, and veterans in Abuja on Tuesday.

Mr Abdulraheem said the board was committed to administering pensions in accordance with the applicable laws and salary structures issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.

He explained that the commission provided a revised salary structure for pension and gratuity purposes following the salary review for serving military personnel, effective September 1, 2026.

According to him, the structure incorporates the approved adjustments and provides the basis for calculating pension entitlements across ranks and years of service.

He said the board does not independently determine the salary rates but applies the approved structure in line with the relevant pension regulations.

The MPB chairman also explained that pension computation followed a graduated formula based on years of service, with entitlements increasing from the prescribed minimum to a maximum of 90 per cent of the applicable final emolument after 35 years of service.

He said applying a common framework was essential to maintaining consistency between existing pensioners and personnel who would retire in the future.

He urged veterans to submit their calculations and supporting pension records to enable the board to examine the differences between the amounts expected and those received.

He also said the board was willing to explain its computation and work with the relevant authorities to clarify the issues raised.

“We want everyone to see the applicable documents and understand the computation rather than rely on assumptions,” he said.

Mr Abdulraheem noted that the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission had also been invited to provide clarification on the revised salary structure and the basis for the figures used in the computation.

He emphasised that individual complaints would be more effectively addressed through the examination of pension records and supporting documents.

The chairman further urged veterans’ organisations to adopt a coordinated approach to engaging the board, saying a recognised channel would facilitate communication and help prevent the fragmentation of complaints.

Mr Abdulraheem reiterated that the board was prepared to review the concerns against the relevant records and regulations, stressing that accurate information was essential to resolving the disputes.

He said the board’s objective was to ensure consistent application of the rules and prevent individual errors or misunderstandings from undermining confidence in the pension administration process.

Earlier in their remarks, representatives of the veterans called for greater transparency in the implementation of the consequential adjustment, alleging that some retirees received increases below the percentages announced for their respective rank categories.

The veterans also raised concerns over differences in arrears paid to warrant officers and master warrant officers, as well as pension benefits for medically boarded personnel.

One of the representatives, Duru Augustine, said the veterans wanted to understand how the revised salary structure translated into the actual amounts received by individual pensioners.

Mr Augustine said the veterans expected their concerns to be examined in accordance with the applicable pension framework and called for clear explanations of the computations.

The interaction provided an opportunity for the board to explain its position and for veterans to present their concerns, although the disputed calculations were not fully reconciled during the meeting.

(NAN)