For decades, Nigeria’s retired military personnel have been compelled to travel hundreds, sometimes thousands, of kilometers—particularly for those abroad—merely to fulfill the annual requirement of verifying their identities at the Military Pensions Board. This antiquated system, both costly and time-consuming, has placed an undue strain on the lives and resources of Nigeria’s veterans.
The Nigerian Military Pensions Board, the institution tasked with managing retirement benefits for military retirees and administering death benefits to their next of kin (NOK), has long relied on physical verification exercises to validate the status of eligible pensioners within its database.
Historically, these verification exercises required veterans or their NOK to appear in person at designated centers for authentication.
A turning point came just a few months ago. Under the stewardship of Dr. Bello Matawalle, the Nigerian Military Pensions Board (MPB) introduced a fully digitized system for the verification of military pensions. This modernization allows for seamless, electronic verification of pensioners, whether they reside within Nigeria or abroad, using secure identification such as international passports, National Identity Numbers (NIN), or driver’s licenses.
This initiative represents a watershed moment in ensuring the continued welfare of Nigeria’s veterans.
By transitioning to a digitized system, Dr. Matawalle has not only mitigated the physical and financial toll once imposed on veterans and their families but also eradicated the need for arduous travel to verification centers. Pensioners can now complete the verification process from the comfort of their homes, regardless of their geographic location.
This digital transformation brings unparalleled convenience and accessibility. Veterans can now authenticate their status with ease, from any corner of the globe, obviating the risks associated with long-distance travel.
Beyond convenience, this overhaul results in significant savings in both time and resources. Veterans once burdened by exorbitant airfare and accommodation costs to fulfill their obligations now find their finances preserved.
Equally important, the new digital process curtails human error, ensuring the accuracy of pension records nationwide. It ensures the use of robust, secure identification methods that significantly reduce the risk of fraud, guaranteeing that only eligible beneficiaries receive their entitlements.
In an era where efficiency and security are paramount, Dr. Matawalle’s reforms exemplify the promise of technology in public administration. By embracing digital innovation, the Military Pensions Board has not only streamlined a burdensome process but also reinforced the dignity of Nigeria’s veterans, ensuring they are accorded the respect and ease of service they deserve in retirement. This is a model of modern governance that other sectors would do well to emulate.
Nathaniel C. Adoji writes from Kaduna