Pension Board Begins Payment Of Debarment Allowances To Ex-servicemen

The Military Pensions Board (MPB) has commenced payment of first and second tranches of Security Debarment Allowances (SDA) to military veterans and Next of Kins (NOKs) of deceased personnel.

A statement by the chairman of the Board, Rear Admiral Saburi Abayomi Lawal, said the payment, which was in fulfilment of the presidential approval of the provisions of the reviewed Manual of Financial Administration (MAFA) 2017, started on Thursday, January 5, 2023.

This was sequel to the approval given by the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, for the payment of the Security Debarment Allowance (SDA) to military retirees, who originally were not covered by the November 9, 2017 effective date and the agreement reached at the ensuing tripartite meetings of the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Finance and representatives of the Veteran Associations.

“The Military Pensions Board (MPB) wishes to inform our esteemed military retirees and the general public that the Board has commenced payment of the first and second tranches (that is, for 1st and 2nd Quarters 2023) of the SDA to eligible military retirees/Next of Kins (NOKs) of deceased military personnel.

“The beneficiaries of these payments are: military retirees on MPB database who retired before 9 November 2017, deceased military retirees who were alive when the MAFA was signed on 9 November 2017 and non-pensionable retirees who retired before 9 November 2017 but were only paid gratuities.

“However, our esteemed retirees are please requested to note that the SDA is calculated as a function of 10 percent of the retiree’s annual basic salary as at the time of retirement multiplied by the number of years served in the services.”

The Board directed all concerned military pensioners and next of kins of deceased military personnel to contact their banks for their entitlements.

He appreciated President Buhari for his support, most especially to military retirees and the Next of Kins of deceased military personnel.

He also thanked the Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir Magashi (Rtd), Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, the Chief of Defence Staff, General LEO Irabor as well as the Service Chiefs for their constant support and interventions towards ensuring that funds for the arrears of the SDA were appropriated for in the 2023 Appropriation Act and cash-backed for immediate payment.

The Board also thanked military retirees for their patience and understanding during the process of getting the funds for commencement of payment of this outstanding allowance.

The Board further pledged to ensure prompt payment of subsequent tranches of these arrears, once funds were made available.