Tinubu Approves Luxurious Retirement Packages for Service Chiefs (FULL LIST)

President Tinubu has approved significant retirement packages for Nigeria’s service chiefs. Get the full list of benefits and entitlements for the outgoing officials.

President Bola Tinubu has sanctioned a retirement package for Nigerian service chiefs and generals. This package includes $20,000 annually for foreign medical treatment, bulletproof SUVs, personal cooks, among other benefits. The decision has drawn criticism from various medical associations.

The retirement benefits specified in the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers and Enlisted Personnel in the Nigerian Armed Forces, which were signed by Tinubu on December 14, 2024, grant entitlement to a bulletproof SUV for the Chief of Defence Staff and other service chiefs. This vehicle will be replaced every four years and maintained by the military. Furthermore, retirees are entitled to receive either a Peugeot 508 or an equivalent backup vehicle.

In addition to vehicles, retired generals will enjoy the services of domestic aides, residential guards, and various other luxurious privileges.

Nonetheless, the packages have faced criticism from several medical associations, such as the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).

They contend that providing such extravagant benefits is not suitable in a nation struggling with insufficient healthcare infrastructure, unpaid medical staff, and an exodus of skilled professionals from the health sector.

Retirees holding the rank of lieutenant general and their equivalents will receive international and local medical treatment valued up to $20,000 each year. Although specific benefits for the CDS and service chiefs were not detailed, it is believed that their package would be substantially greater.

Furthermore, they will be provided with a special or personal assistant, three service drivers, and a service orderly. Military units will supply escorts as needed.

In addition, each retiring service chief will receive five domestic aides, including two cooks from the service, two stewards, and a civilian gardener. They will also be accompanied by an aide-de-camp or security officer.

The HTCOS stated, “Retirement benefits for the CDS and Service Chiefs include: A bullet-proof SUV or equivalent vehicle, maintained by the Service and replaced every four years. Additionally, a Peugeot 508 or an equivalent backup vehicle will be provided.”

Retention of all military uniforms and accessories for use during appropriate ceremonies; allocation of five domestic aides, including two service cooks, two stewards, and one civilian gardener; provision of one Aide-de-Camp/security officer; assignment of either a Special Assistant (Lt/Capt or equivalent) or Personal Assistant (Warrant Officer or equivalent); deployment of a standard guard consisting of nine soldiers.

Three service drivers, one service orderly; escorts provided by appropriate military units or formations as needed; retention of personal firearms (to be retrieved by the relevant service upon his demise), and free medical coverage both in Nigeria and abroad.

Lieutenant generals and equivalent senior officers are entitled to two Toyota Hilux vehicles or one Toyota Land Cruiser. In addition, they receive $20,000 annually for medical treatment and have the support of two cooks, two stewards, four residential guards, and two drivers.

The document specified that lieutenant generals and their equivalents are entitled to either two Toyota Hilux vehicles or a single Toyota Land Cruiser. Additionally, they will receive $20,000 annually for medical treatment, as well as the services of two cooks, two stewards, four residential guards, and two drivers.

Retirement benefits for those holding the rank of lieutenant general or equivalent include: eligibility for officers at a three-star level. Benefits consist of either two Toyota Hilux vehicles or one Toyota Land Cruiser, or an equivalent jeep valued similarly; provision of two cooks and two stewards; four residential security guards; one service orderly; two drivers, and medical coverage in Nigeria and abroad up to $20,000 annually.

The Federal Government also authorized the provision of a Toyota Land Cruiser or equivalent vehicle for major generals and brigadier generals, along with $15,000 annually for medical treatment, domestic staff services, and residential security guards.

One-star officers are anticipated to receive an annual $10,000 allocation for medical expenses, a Toyota Camry or its equivalent vehicle, along with comparable domestic and security accommodations.

The HTCOS also stated, “For major-generals/brigadier-generals and their equivalents, the following benefits will apply: A Toyota Land Cruiser or a car of equivalent value.”

– One cook – One steward – Two residential guards – One service orderly – One driver Additionally, free medical care is available both within Nigeria and internationally, up to a total of $15,000 annually.

Officers of One-Star rank (Brig. Gen.) are entitled to the following benefits: a Toyota Camry or an equivalent car of similar value, one service driver, two residential guards, one orderly, and medical coverage in Nigeria and abroad up to $10,000 per year.

Colonels and their counterparts will receive a Toyota Corolla or an equivalent vehicle, along with complimentary medical care within Nigeria.

Professor Bala Audu, the President of the NMA, stressed that government officials should invest any retirement benefits they receive in Nigeria.

Discussing the enhanced perks for top military officials, the NMA president stated, “In my opinion, if they wish to provide them with government-covered medical care or personal chefs, these benefits should all be offered within Nigeria.”

He insisted that anyone seeking to receive benefits, whether they are service chiefs or the President, should do so in Nigeria and not abroad.

Prof. Muhammad Muhammad, the President of MDCAN, called for a transformation of Nigeria’s healthcare system to better address the needs of its citizens.

He said, “My primary concern isn’t about what they’re offering; it’s that it has become official policy for medical treatment to be sought abroad. In most cases, however, they end up consulting Nigerian doctors overseas. Therefore, we must ensure the well-being of healthcare providers in Nigeria is prioritized.”

He mentioned that arranging foreign medical treatment for the retired officers indicated a lack of confidence in the local healthcare sector.

This implies that the government lacks confidence in Nigeria’s healthcare system. Consequently, it’s essential to ensure that we have equivalent levels of care available in Nigeria as those provided abroad. This will help maintain Nigerians’ trust in both their healthcare system and providers. Therefore, my primary concern isn’t with the allocated resources but with making it official policy for treatment to occur overseas.

He added, “This indicates that the government is dissatisfied and uneasy with the current state of healthcare available to Nigerians in their hospitals.”

The medical expert emphasized the importance of prioritizing the well-being of Nigerians and healthcare professionals, while recognizing that retirement packages for service chiefs, judges, and politicians are not a new development.

He recommended increasing budget allocations to upgrade hospitals, healthcare institutions, and training centers. This would enable Nigerians to access the necessary healthcare services domestically without needing to travel abroad.

NARD president Dr. Tope Osundara pointed out that medical tourism is a major issue for the health sector and emphasized the urgent need to address it.

The medical treatments people seek abroad are available right here in Nigeria. Moreover, what’s preventing the government from equipping our hospitals with state-of-the-art technology or upgrading them?

We do have Nigerian doctors capable of performing many procedures that people travel abroad for. However, instead of prioritizing our healthcare system by equipping and efficiently running hospitals, we choose to spend money elsewhere, inadvertently boosting other economies.

We should prioritize investing in our health system, as this funding will eventually circulate back into the economy. By channeling money into healthcare and allowing people to benefit from it, we can expect a return on investment. However, it appears that the government is focusing its efforts elsewhere instead of concentrating on what is essential for Nigeria.

I appreciate the efforts of Coordinating Minister Prof. Muhammad Pate, who is diligently working to enhance the health system; however, there are limits to what a minister can accomplish alone.

He emphasized the need for a fundamental change in approaching health sector reforms, stating that it is still up to the executive branch of government to prioritize localizing medical treatment rather than focusing on seeking care abroad.

Friday Odeh, the Country Director of Accountability Lab Nigeria, called the development “alarming” and highlighted the difficulties Nigerians are enduring. He also expressed concerns about government priorities due to extravagant retirement benefits.

He further questioned if the service chiefs truly earned their packages and urged citizens to challenge these policies.

Odeh expressed concern, saying it is troubling that service chiefs are poised to receive $20,000 for overseas medical treatment, bullet-proof SUVs, and personal staff as components of their retirement package. Considering Nigeria’s current economic challenges, such opulence raises significant questions about the government’s priorities.

“Millions of Nigerians face poverty and inadequate public services, while resources are being diverted to luxuries for a privileged few. Can Nigeria really afford such extravagance?”

Odeh questioned the rationale behind the retirement benefits, pointing to the armed forces’ failure in tackling the country’s ongoing security issues.

He stated, “The reasoning behind these perks is dubious. For more than 12 years, the country has been plagued by insecurity, marked by insurgency, kidnapping, banditry, and violence that have caused widespread devastation. Although there have been some advancements made during this time, they are inconsistent and inadequate.”

Have the service chiefs earned these packages, particularly when many regions continue to face insecurity in a country where military procurement remains opaque and is reportedly plagued by deep-rooted corruption?

This policy highlights underlying governance problems, conveying a concerning message that public resources can be extravagantly allocated to elites without regard for their performance.

He stated that citizens and the media should question policies that consistently use national security as a shield, insisting instead on prioritizing the greater good. Although insecurity has slightly diminished in some regions, it is insufficient to warrant providing leaders with excessive benefits.

Okechukwu Nwaguma, the Executive Director of the Rule of Law Advocacy and Accountability Centre, highlighted a concerning disparity between governmental decisions and citizens’ actual experiences regarding retirement benefits. He further remarked that justifying these perks is dubious.

He observed that the Nigerian government’s choice to award extensive retirement benefits to military leaders during a time of economic difficulty highlights a concerning gap between governmental decisions and the challenges citizens are experiencing.

This highlights major worries about the government’s priorities and sense of justice. The extravagant retirement packages for military leaders starkly contrast with the hardships endured by most citizens who are grappling with insecurity, unemployment, and inflation.

This gap can intensify public dissatisfaction with the government, as it seems to prioritize rewarding elites over addressing the needs of everyday citizens.

Nwaguma expressed that this decision could strengthen the belief that the Tinubu administration prioritizes elite interests, potentially leading to increased public alienation.

This situation prompts questions about the fairness of resource distribution during crises. It underscores the necessity for enhanced governance that truly represents and serves the people’s interests and well-being. Citizens anticipate their leaders to act with empathy and responsibility.

He added that to achieve lasting stability and public trust, the government must align its policies with the socioeconomic realities of its citizens while prioritizing security and social welfare initiatives.