News Analysis: By Abdul Lauya
In a striking departure from the recent past, military pensioners across Nigeria received their July 2025 pensions today early, smoothly, and with no hitches.
Even more remarkable is that this disbursement happened on a Saturday, July 26, a weekend, when many had braced for the usual delay and staggered bank credits.
The Military Pensions Board (MPB), in an official statement signed by Squadron Leader Aliyu Mohammed on behalf of the Chairman, confirmed that July pensions have been successfully paid into the respective accounts of all pensioners on the Board’s payroll.
The statement further advised unverified pensioners to contact the MPB through dedicated helplines to restore their entitlements.
But the real story is not just that pensions were paid, it’s how fast and seamlessly they were processed under the newly appointed MPB Chairman, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Idris Adamu, who resumed office less than a month ago.
Prior to his appointment, the narrative had become all too familiar: military retirees waiting anxiously as their pensions were delayed until the end of the month or even into the next, despite the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursing funds mid-month.
Worse still, bank crediting was inconsistent, some veterans receiving their stipends days after others, creating frustration, especially for those dependent on the money for medication and daily survival.
Now, in just under three weeks, AVM Adamu has not only ensured timely payment, but achieved what had eluded the system for months: simultaneous, nationwide crediting without complaints.
This development raises an inevitable question:
What is AVM Adamu doing differently that made this possible?
Has he streamlined internal processes? Did he tighten coordination between MPB, FMoF, and the banks? Or is it simply a matter of leadership, one that values speed, precision, and dignity for those who served the nation?
Whatever the answer, the results speak for themselves. In the typically opaque world of government pension administration, where excuses often abound, AVM Adamu’s first move signals a refreshing break from inertia and inefficiency.
Military retirees, long accustomed to waiting and wondering, now have reason to hope that this isn’t a one-off, but the beginning of a new standard of service, one that respects their sacrifice and delivers their dues on time.
If this is the tone AVM Adamu is setting in his first month, then Nigeria’s veterans may finally have an advocate who walks the talk, not with noise or fanfare, but with silent, effective action.
