...Tests Runs Pilot Phase with 9,600 retirees
The Military Pensions Board on Thursday said it has commenced the electronic verification of retired military personnel in the country to among other things, save veterans the security risks associated with travelling by road and the financial burden of travelling down to Nigeria for pensioners residing outside the country.
Aside the security challenges, the MPB said, "Continuing with the physical verification exercise has become difficult due to certain factors such as the old age of our esteemed pensioners and the high cost of transportation among others.
Chairman of the Pensions Board, Air Vice Marshal IP Irhumheson who made the disclosure at a briefing in Abuja, said, "Therefore, to ease the process of future verification exercises and sustain the integrity of the pension database, the Military Pensions Board has developed a system for the Electronic Verification of pensioners, known as the "Military Pensions Board Electronic Verification Management System".
Consequently, he said the Board would commence the deployment of the electronic verification application with a pilot test in which 300 pensioners drawn from each of the 36 states of the Federation (9,600) pensioners) would test the application.
He said, The Military Pensions Board Electronic Verification Management System is a web-based system designed to enable our pensioners carry out their verification from the comfort of their locations using a mobile device.
"The system takes pensioners through multiple stages of a verification process that ends with the generation of a reference number which is sent to pensioners via text message and email.
Explaining further, he said, "To carry out their verification, pensioners will be required to download the Military Pensions Board Electronic Verification Application from the Google Play Store (for Android Phone users) or the AppStore (for iPhone users).
"Thereafter, they would open the application and agree to the Attestation.
"To gain access to the system, pensioners will be required to input their Bank and Bank Account Number and check the Terms and Conditions box.
"Upon gaining access to the system, pensioners will be required to follow the instructions on the screen for a selfie capture of their face for liveness verification.
"Thereafter, pensioners will input their National Identity Number (NIN) or Driver's License Number for biodata verification.
"If both operations are successful, pensioners will be required to update their profile by providing their phone number, email address and BVN for validation.
"If the validation is successful, a reference number will be generated which will serve as proof of completion of the verification process. Pensioners' ATM Card details and ATM Card PIN Are Not Required for the confirmation process.
"Therefore, our esteemed pensioners are warned to be wary of fraudsters.
On the pilot test, the Chairman said, "The pilot test will take place from 19 February - 1 March 2024. Pensioners who were selected to participate in the pilot test have been duly notified through the Nigerian Legion and other veterans associations.
"The selected pensioners will not be required to visit the Board to participate in the pilot test.
"A link would be sent to the pensioners via SMS instructing them to download the electronic verification application and carry out the verification in their respective locations.
"Pensioners who did not receive any notification should kindly note that they are not part of the pilot test and would not be able to gain access to the system to carry out their verification at this time.
"On successful completion of the pilot test, the application would be deployed on a full scale at programmed intervals for pensioners on the Board's payroll to carry out their verification.
He assured pensioners that "the electronic verification solution was designed with their utmost welfare in mind, leveraging on technology to achieve accuracy, user-friendliness, and convenience".
"This is in fulfilment of the promise made when I took over as the Chairman Military Pensions Board to ensure that the era of bringing out our aged pensioners for physical verification is over. Be rest assured that nobody can tamper with your pension payment through the electronic verification application.
Continuing, he said, "If somebody with a smartphone in your neighbourhood helps you carry out the verification, the person cannot steal your money. All we need is a confirmation that you are still alive so that we can continue to pay your pension.
"In the coming weeks, we intend to carry out massive awareness campaign on this system, to sensitise pensioners and the general public. As always, we are available to answer any questions you might have on the electronic verification exercise.
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He reassured pensioners and Next-of-Kin of deceased personnel that the Military Pensions Board is working tirelessly to ensure that their entitlements are always paid as and when due.
He added that, "The welfare of pensioners and Next-of-Kin of deceased personnel remains our utmost priority and we would not rest on our oars."
Recalling the old system of physical verification, AVM Irhumheson said, "The Board, in the past, carried out physical verification of pensioners in designated locations across the country.
"The aim of the physical verification exercise was to ensure that all pensionable retirees both home and abroad were still alive and eligible for pension while promptly removing unqualified or deceased pensioners from the Board's payroll.
"The physical verification exercises were largely successful as they helped the Board to maintain a comprehensive and reliable database that facilitated accurate budget preparation and pension payments.
"This resulted in the drastic reduction of the pension bill due to the removal of ineligible pensioners from the payroll. However present realities has made it untenable."
