- Annual $20,000 Medical Allowance, Bulletproof SUVs Among Perks for Retired Generals
- Nigerian Medical Bodies Criticize Extravagant Benefits Amid Healthcare Challenges
President Bola Tinubu has approved a generous retirement package for service chiefs and senior military officers, including foreign medical treatment worth $20,000 annually, bulletproof SUVs, and a host of domestic aides. This package, detailed in the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers and Enlisted Personnel in the Nigerian Armed Forces, has sparked widespread criticism, particularly from medical associations.
Details of the Retirement Package
The new benefits, signed into law by President Tinubu on December 14, 2024, grant the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and other service chiefs a bulletproof SUV or equivalent vehicle, replaced every four years, and a Peugeot 508 or equivalent as a backup. The maintenance of these vehicles will be covered by the military.
Additionally, retired service chiefs will be entitled to:
- Five domestic aides, including two cooks, two stewards, and one gardener.
- A security officer or aide-de-camp.
- Three service drivers and one orderly.
- Escorts provided by military units as needed.
- Retention of military uniforms and personal firearms.
Medical allowances for lieutenant generals and equivalents include up to $20,000 annually for international and local treatment, with expectations of higher allocations for the CDS and service chiefs.
Perks for Senior Officers
Other ranks also benefit from the revised package:
- Lieutenant Generals: Two Toyota Hilux vehicles or one Toyota Land Cruiser, $20,000 in annual medical care, and additional domestic staff.
- Major Generals and Brigadier Generals: A Toyota Land Cruiser or equivalent, $15,000 in annual medical care, and domestic aides.
- Brigadier Generals: A Toyota Camry or equivalent and $10,000 annually for medical treatment.
- Colonels and Equivalents: A Toyota Corolla or equivalent and free medical care within Nigeria.
Backlash from Medical Associations
Medical professionals and organizations, including the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Medical and Dental Association of Nigeria, and Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), have criticized the package as insensitive amid Nigeria’s struggling healthcare system.
“It is deeply concerning that such lavish allocations are made for retired military officers while the healthcare system for ordinary Nigerians is grossly underfunded,” said a representative of the NMA.
Critics have also highlighted the disparity between the luxurious perks for retired officers and the plight of citizens who face inadequate healthcare facilities and a lack of access to essential services.
Call for Review
Opposition voices have called on the Federal Government to reconsider the extravagant benefits, arguing that the funds could be better allocated to pressing national issues such as education, infrastructure, and public healthcare.
The package raises questions about equity in governance, with many citizens asking whether such lavish provisions are justifiable in light of Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges.
