Chairman of the Military Pensions Board (MPB), Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Adamu, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to the welfare of retired military personnel, pledging a leadership style anchored on inclusivity, transparency, and collaboration.
Speaking during an interactive session with military veterans in Abuja, Adamu highlighted President Bola Tinubu’s continued support for pensioners, citing the timely release of pension payments and approval of salary increments as key indicators of that commitment.
“It is an honour to host those who laid the foundation for today’s Armed Forces,” he said, addressing the veterans. “We are here because of you. Without veterans, there is no Board.”
Marking his first full month in office, Adamu emphasised his intention to maintain an open-door policy and actively engage veteran associations across the country. He invited the veterans to speak freely about their concerns, assuring them that any issues beyond the Board’s control would be escalated to the relevant authorities.
The MPB chairman also acknowledged the support of the Minister of Defence, whom he described as responsive to issues affecting veterans.
Retired Air Commodore Isaac Oguntuyi, Chairman of the Ministry of Defence Veteran Welfare Committee, welcomed the initiative, calling it the first of its kind in more than three years. He urged veterans to use the opportunity to have honest conversations and to present a united front ahead of the upcoming Veterans Federation of Nigeria (VFN) meeting.
“This is our chance to set the agenda, not just for the Board but for ourselves as veteran associations,” Oguntuyi stated.
The session featured contributions from various veteran groups and board officials, with several suggestions and grievances raised. Adamu assured participants that their concerns would be carefully reviewed and addressed.