The Northern Security Advocacy Group (NSAG) on Wednesday convened a world press conference in Abuja to formally condemn what it called a sustained and coordinated campaign of attacks targeting the person and office of Air Vice Marshal M. Abdulraheem, the Chairman of the Military Pension Board.

The press conference was addressed by the group’s Speaker, Jonathan Onoja, who said the event was necessitated by the urgent need to draw public attention to what the group believes is a well-orchestrated smear campaign against a senior military official whose work has been yielding significant results for veterans across Nigeria.

Speaking before a gathering of journalists and retired military veterans, Onoja stated that the NSAG had observed and carefully monitored a pattern of targeted attacks designed to distract and alienate AVM Abdulraheem from his mandate at the helm of the Military Pension Board.

“We are here today because of what we have observed, a coordinated smear campaign aimed at distracting and alienating AVM Abdulraheem. We are very bold to believe these attacks are being sponsored by some high-ranking retired military officers.”— Jonathan Onoja, Spokesperson, NSAG

The group did not mince words in identifying the alleged orchestrators of the campaign, pointing accusing fingers at certain high-ranking retired officers within the military establishment who, it is believed, may have personal interests opposed to the reform agenda being championed by AVM Abdulraheem at the Military Pension Board.

Reforms Credited to AVM Abdulraheem’s Leadership

Central to the NSAG’s defence of the Military Pension Board Chairman is a catalogue of reforms and improvements credited to his administration since assuming office. The group highlighted what it described as faster and more transparent payment of pensions and gratuities to retired Nigerian military personnel, a development it noted has been independently confirmed by veterans who were present at the press conference.

According to the group, digital verification systems are currently being rolled out on a nationwide scale under AVM Abdulraheem’s watch, with the primary aim of eliminating fraud and addressing the long-standing problem of delays in pension disbursement. The new systems, the group said, are also expected to significantly reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks that have historically denied veterans timely access to their entitlements.

“Retired veterans present here today can testify to the improved access to entitlements under this administration,” Onoja told journalists, emphasising that the positive changes were not merely claims from the organisation but verifiable realities experienced by the beneficiaries themselves.

NSAG Issues Strong Warning

The NSAG used the occasion to issue a stern warning to all individuals, whether retired or still serving, who may be behind the sustained attacks against AVM Abdulraheem. The group made clear its position that the work of the Military Pension Board is of national importance and must not be disrupted by any individual or group with personal or political motivations.

Onoja stressed that AVM Abdulraheem’s service to veterans must be allowed to continue unimpeded, and called on relevant authorities to investigate the alleged sponsorship of the smear campaign and hold those responsible accountable.

The Northern Security Advocacy Group (NSAG) is a civil society organisation focused on national security issues, the welfare of military personnel, and advocacy for veterans’ rights across Nigeria.