Military disowns unauthorised pension figures

The Military Pensions Board (MPB) yesterday denied unauthorised figures for the  harmonised military pension peddled in major online news websites.

Flight Lieutenant Ikenna Ezendu, MPB’s public relations officer, said the harmonisation was not an increment, but meant to bridge the gap in pensions among certain ranks of pensioners, who retired before and after consolidation of salaries in July 2010.

He said: “Harmonisation is not a pension increment, but rather a deliberate effort to bridge the gap in pensions between certain ranks of pensioners, who retired before and after consolidation of salaries in July 2010.

“Therefore, pensioners should endeavour to find out the actual gap between these categories of pensioners to avoid speculation.”

He said the most affected rank brackets are Private to Sergeant as well as Brigadier General and above.

“The harmonisation takes effect from August 2016. However, Pension Review Committee, under the auspices of the Chief of Defence Staff, is working to review military pensions for all retirees.

“The MPB, in conjunction with National Salary Income and Wages Commission, are working to ensure that the approved table by Federal Government is applied during implementation.

“Consequently, military pensioners and other stakeholders are advised to disregard unofficial figures circulated for harmonisation of military pensions,” Ezendu warned.