The Military Pensions Board (MPB) and military veterans have resolved concerns over alleged disparities in the latest consequential pension adjustments following clarifications by the board on the applicable salary structures, computation methods and regulations governing retirees’ entitlements.
The Chairman of the MPB, Air Vice Marshal Mikail Abdulraheem, gave the assurance during an engagement with military veterans in Abuja on Tuesday, where he explained the basis for the revised pension payments and pledged transparency in addressing complaints by affected retirees.
The controversy arose from concerns that salary increases of between 30 and 80 per cent announced by the Nigerian Government for serving military personnel had not translated into corresponding increases in pension payments for some retirees.
Abdulraheem explained that the board does not independently determine pension rates but relies on salary structures and official circulars issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) to calculate pensions and gratuities.
He said “the revised Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure took effect on September 1, 2026, adding that the commission issued a separate circular specifying the applicable rates for pension and gratuity calculations.”
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According to him, understanding the distinction between the salary structure for serving personnel and the pension-specific structure was essential to determining the correct entitlements of retirees.
“The National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission develops the applicable salary structure and issues the relevant circulars. The board then uses that structure to compute pensions and gratuities,” he said.
The Chairman assured the veterans that the board was committed to transparency and would address legitimate complaints through a review of the relevant documents, applicable regulations and individual pension records.
He also explained that the pension framework provides for 40 per cent of the relevant final emolument after 10 years of service, with the percentage increasing by two percentage points for every additional year until it reaches 90 per cent after 35 years.
The explanation addressed concerns raised by retired personnel over the basis for calculating their revised entitlements, particularly the amounts received by warrant officers and master warrant officers.
One of the veterans, retired Major Jay Onje, had sought clarification on whether the announced salary increases were applied directly to existing pension payments or calculated using a different formula.
Similarly, retired Master Warrant Officer Duru Augustine questioned the figures used in calculating pensions for personnel with 35 years of service.
Augustine cited annual total emoluments of approximately N5.21 million, equivalent to about N434,211 monthly, and argued that a 90 per cent pension rate would amount to approximately N390,790 monthly.
He also alleged that some retired master warrant officers received consequential adjustments of about N127,000.
Responding, Abdulraheem explained that total emoluments alone could not establish an individual’s pension entitlement, stressing that calculations must be based on pensionable emoluments and the applicable pension-specific salary structure.
He urged veterans to provide accurate information and supporting documents to enable the board to examine individual cases and determine whether any discrepancies required correction.
The Chairman further disclosed that relevant authorities, including the NSIWC, had been invited to clarify the applicable rates and explain the computation of the revised pension figures.
“We want everyone to see the applicable documents and understand the computation rather than rely on assumptions,” he said.
The concerns were also formally presented in a letter dated October 10, 2026, by the Coalition for Military Veterans Welfare, which questioned alleged disparities in arrears paid to warrant officers and master warrant officers and sought clarification on benefits for medically boarded personnel.
The coalition alleged that some warrant officers received approximately N147,000 in arrears, compared with N137,000 for master warrant officers in the 35-year service category.
Review of Calculatioms
It called for a review of the calculations and greater disclosure of the basis for the payments.
The veterans also sought clearer breakdowns of their gross pension entitlements and revised payments to enable them to understand how their individual benefits were determined.
Following the chairman’s explanations and assurances, the engagement provided an avenue for addressing the concerns and clarifying the applicable pension computation framework.
Abdulraheem reiterated that the board would handle complaints transparently and in accordance with the relevant regulations, while encouraging retirees to seek clarification through official channels and provide the necessary records to support individual claims.
