The Military Pension Board (MPB), has on Thursday, begin the payment of the first and second tranches of the Security Debarment Allowance (SDA) for military retirees has started,
Chairman of the Board, Rear Admiral S.A. Lawal, in a statement, noted that the payment followed an approval by President Muhamadu Buhari.
The statement reads: “Sequel to the approval given by the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, for the payment of the Security Debarment Allowance (SDA) to military retirees who originally were not covered by the 9 November 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 payment, which is in fulfilment of the Presidential approval of the provisions of the reviewed Manual of Financial Administration (MAFA) 2017 will commence on Thursday 5 January 2023.
“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”.
It added that, “however, our esteemed retirees are please requested to note that the SDA is calculated as a function of 10 per cent of the retiree’s annual basic salary as at the time of retirement multiplied by the number of years served in the services. All concerned military pensioners and NOKs of deceased military personnel are therefore advised to contact their banks for their entitlements.
“On behalf of our esteemed military pensioners, the Board wishes to thank President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR for his immense support, most especially to military retirees and the NOKs of deceased military personnel. Also, the Board extends its appreciation to the Honourable Minister of Defence, Maj Gen BS Magashi (Rtd), Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen LEO Irabor as well as the Service Chiefs for their constant support and interventions towards ensuring that funds for the arrears of the SDA are appropriated for in the 2023 Appropriation Act and cash-backed for immediate payment.
“The Board would also like to thank our esteemed military retirees for their patience and understanding during the process of getting funds for commencement of payment of this outstanding allowance.
“On its part, the Board pledges to ensure prompt payment of subsequent tranches of this arrears, once funds are made available.”
