Posted by From MOLLY KILETE. Abuja on
The Military Pensions Board (MPB), in Abuja, on Monday flagged off the first phase of the payment of over N2 billion pension arrears and gratuity owed military pensioners and next of kin, with the Ikemba of Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegu Ojukwu as well as Senate President, David Mark as beneficiaries of the exercise.
The Military Pensions Board (MPB), in Abuja, on Monday flagged off the first phase of the payment of over N2 billion pension arrears and gratuity owed military pensioners and next of kin, with the Ikemba of Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegu Ojukwu as well as Senate President, David Mark as beneficiaries of the exercise.
The exercise, according to the chairman of the board, Brigadier-General Bitrus Kwaji, was to ensure that officers and men, as well as ratings, airmen, discharged soldiers, including next of kin of deceased personnel, who have not been on the payroll of the board but have attended the NAFRC 1 of 2007, in Oshodi, Lagos get paid.
Also included on the list for payment, are the next-of-kin of deceased senior officers, and aircrew members who lost their lives in the ill-fated military plane crash, Dornier 228 of September 17, 2006 in Benue State as well as the 64 pardoned ex-officers affected by the Nigerian civil war and all other military pensioners with genuine outstanding pension arrears.
Similarly, medically boarded ex-soldiers, who had been excluded from the military pension scheme for decades will be included in the military pension's payroll from February this year.
In his address on the occasion, which had in attendance the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Andrew Azazi and all the service chiefs, the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, noted that the payment was as a result of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's resolve to settle all outstanding pension arrears and ensure a stable and good quality of life for military pensioners.
He said that the process for the payment of retirees has been simplified by the Pension Board and called on the beneficiaries to furnish the board with their respective bank details to enable it service the accounts for their monthly entitlements.
According to him, the event 'marked the culmination of the reintegration process that started the very moment the civil war ended.
That our highly revered and distinguished leader, brother, Odumegwu Ojukwu, is here in person to collect his benefit is a testimony to the fact that those who sacrificed their lives on both sides are not only remembered, but are indeed accorded due recognition and respect."
Also speaking, chairman of the board, pointed out that the zonal payment system was stopped because 'it delayed the remittance of benefits to retirees' accounts," adding that all pensioners are now to be serviced directly by their chosen banks without going through a third party.
'It is our resolve at the board to make life better for our senior citizens by ensuring that all of them have access to their monthly pension without stress from this year. This is the least we can do for you."
Also speaking, Senate President Senator David Mark described the occasion as special and emotional having been denied his pension and gratuity for the past 16 years.
Mark said: 'It is indeed a special occasion because when I retired about 16 years ago I immediately applied for my pension and I was promptly told that since I left and did an interview castigating the military government I was not entitled to pension. I thought pension was a right and not a favour, but, as it were, nobody allowed me to get that right."
'The point here today is that pensions for those of us who served and served meritoriously is a right, is not a favour being done to any one, whether you are solider or an officer; whether you are mere men or an officer, or a sailor or an officer; it is your right and not a favour in any form."
Also speaking, Ojukwu thanked the government. He said: 'This is one of the rare occasions, but it is one of those occasions that makes one really feel proud to be part of this country. We have come together again as a body and we can't fail mentioning the singular honour that I have been made subject of throughout this morning here. The way everybody has spoken has given a lie to the whole concept that this is the public enemy number one. The way everyone has taken care of my movement up and down has indicated that once you put on that uniform you remain brothers forever. I want, on my own part, to assure all of you that despite the problems and pretence we remain brothers."
Ojukwu, however, described as deliberate insult his being referred to as Lt. Col. instead of General, using America 's Gen. Robert Lee as an example.
'I particularly remember as I sat down listening to the military music; as far as I am concerned this is the day and I thank you for giving me the opportunit, but more than anything I thank you for remembering. I say this because it is not everyone that remembers. I say this because in actual fact when I was coming in this morning I was working in my mind what bombshell shall I throw here in the characteristic Ojukwu fashion. Distinguished Senate president, you have done another thing, you probably didn't realize but you diffused that bombshell. Listening to you talk one can only be proud to be your brother and I thank you for that.
'I joined the Army and I think most of us did in search of two things, glory and honour. At the time we were joining, nobody thought of silver and gold, but glory and honour. In my own way I don't want this episode to end with the passage of silver and gold. Yes, I am glad I can earn a pension, I am glad that I can have all the package, but what is the greatest thing is that when I walked in here and I looked at somebody in uniform and he salutes immediately, there is nothing better than that and that is what we entered this job for. Let us continue to help each other.
Let us know that as human beings we are not perfect. But above all, I want to remind every member of the legislature, of the Armed Forces, that we are not unique in our predicament. Yes, we fought a war, nobody can deny it. When I had the opportunity I dare say there are many areas that we are still failing in representing that war but the passage of time will heal most of it. I want to remind all the people in authority in Nigeria that we are not the first to have fought a civil war and we are not the first to end it. In ending our civil war, all I ask is for everybody to live up to the pregnant expectations of Gowon's saying about this war that there is no victor, no vanquished.
Those who think there have been vanquished I ask my colleagues on this side to forgive them because on our own part we have forgiven everybody.
'I want everybody to remember that the leader of the Confederate Army in the United States that we always choose to copy, Gen. Robert Lee, was made a General on the Confederate side. Ever since that time, until the present day, he is referred to with honour for those of you in uniform as Gen. Robert Lee. It gets a bit annoying to see a little boy look up at you and call you Lt. Col. It is a pity. I am a General four starred in the Biafran Army.
I agreed it is not the Nigerian Army, but a Biafran Army four starred. Anybody who had worn that uniform knows what that means. There is no way you listen to certain things and you don't feel that there are deliberate insults and if deliberate insults continued to be heaped on you reconciliation becomes very difficult. But I promise my brother officers, particularly the authorities here that you will always find in me not just a friend but a supporter because what you want for yourself I had wanted, I still want and I will always want. I thank you.
'What does one do with a cheque? I don't know because ever since I joined the Army I have known how much I was paid, so this will be the first payment I will really study, but I promise you it will be for the benefit and progress of Nigerians and not just for myself.
'I want to thank the authorities that in dealing with the officers they have not forgotten the other ranks. We will continue asking questions because we still have residual responsibility for the welfare of the officers and men we commanded. All of you here, listen to me, you are listening to a sincere person. I believe Nigeria has long way to go. I believe we will make it with the type of people who are now serving and who make today possible."