The Federal Government has introduced an Electronic Verification Management System for military retirees, aiming to streamline the process of accessing pensions, gratuities, and other benefits. This electronic system is set to replace the traditional physical verification method conducted by the Military Pensions Board, addressing concerns raised by retirees regarding the cumbersome nature of the existing process, particularly given their advanced age.
Air Vice Marshal Paul Irumheson, the Chairman of the Military Pensions Board, explained during the system’s unveiling in Abuja that factors such as the challenges associated with the physical verification process, including high transportation costs and security risks, prompted the need for a more efficient solution.
In response to these challenges, the Electronic Verification Management System is being introduced as a web-based platform, allowing retirees to undergo verification from the convenience of their locations using mobile devices. The implementation will be initiated with a pilot test involving over 11,000 retirees across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, starting on February 19.
Irumheson emphasized that the new system aims to ease the verification process for pensioners, considering their advanced age and the associated difficulties of physical verification. The pilot test, lasting from February 19 to March 1, 2024, will involve 300 pensioners from each state who will use the electronic verification application.
To participate, pensioners are required to download the Military Pensions Board Electronic Verification Application from either the Google Play Store (for Android users) or the AppStore (for iPhone users). Additionally, retirees were cautioned against sharing unnecessary details, such as ATM information, stressing that such data is not required for the verification exercise.
The introduction of this Electronic Verification Management System reflects the government’s commitment to modernizing processes and addressing the challenges faced by military retirees, ultimately enhancing the efficiency and integrity of the pension database.
