•••Reactions from Civil Society Organizations and the Nigerian Bar Association.
By John Audu, Abuja.
President Bola Tinubu has approved a generous retirement package for service chiefs and generals, including $20,000 for foreign medical treatment, bulletproof SUVs, and personal cooks, sparking criticism from medical professionals and civil society organizations.
According to the Harmonized Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers and Enlisted Personnel in the Nigerian Armed Forces, signed by President Tinubu on December 14, 2024, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and other service chiefs are entitled to a bulletproof SUV or its equivalent, to be replaced every four years and maintained by the military. This is in addition to a Peugeot 508 or an equivalent backup vehicle.
Retired generals will also enjoy a range of luxurious benefits, including domestic aides, residential guards, and escorts provided by relevant military units.
While the specific benefits for the CDS and service chiefs were not publicly disclosed, it is believed that their package will be significantly more lavish than those for lower-ranking officers.
Lieutenant generals and their equivalents are entitled to two Toyota Hilux vehicles or one Toyota Land Cruiser, $20,000 annual medical treatment, two cooks, two stewards, four residential guards, and two drivers. Major generals and brigadier generals receive a Toyota Land Cruiser or equivalent, $15,000 annual medical treatment, domestic staff, and residential guards. One-star officers are entitled to $10,000 annually for medical care, a Toyota Camry or equivalent, and similar domestic and security arrangements. Colonels and their equivalents receive a Toyota Corolla or its equivalent and free medical care within Nigeria.
Medical Professionals Condemn Foreign Treatment Provision
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), and the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have strongly criticized the provision for foreign medical treatment.
NMA President Prof. Bala Audu emphasized that any retirement benefits received by government officials should be invested within Nigeria. “If they want to give them government-benefited medical treatment, cooks, or whatever, I think they should give them all their benefits in Nigeria,” he stated.
MDCAN President Prof. Muhammad Muhammad argued that the decision to provide for foreign treatment signals a lack of confidence in the Nigerian healthcare system. “They have to make sure that whatever level of care they receive abroad, we also have it in Nigeria,” he said.
NARD President Dr. Tope Osundara noted that medical tourism harms the local health sector and urged the government to prioritize the improvement of Nigerian hospitals.
Civil Society Organizations Express Concerns
The Country Director of Accountability Lab Nigeria, Friday Odeh, described the retirement package as “alarming,” highlighting the economic hardship faced by Nigerians. He questioned whether the service chiefs have adequately addressed the country’s security challenges to warrant such lavish rewards.
Okechukwu Nwaguma, Executive Director of the Rule of Law Advocacy and Accountability Centre, pointed out that the excessive retirement perks reflect a troubling disconnect between government actions and the realities faced by citizens. He emphasized that this disparity can deepen public disenchantment and erode public trust in the government.
