President Bola Tinubu has recently approved a substantial retirement package for Nigeria’s service chiefs, which includes $20,000 for foreign medical treatment, bulletproof SUVs, and domestic staff, among other luxurious perks.
The move has sparked widespread criticism from various healthcare associations and civil society organisations, as it comes at a time when many Nigerians face economic hardship and poor public services.
The approval, granted as part of the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers and Enlisted Personnel in the Nigerian Armed Forces, was signed by President Tinubu on December 14, 2024. Under the new package, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and other service chiefs are entitled to a bulletproof SUV, which will be replaced every four years and maintained by the military. In addition, they will be provided with a Peugeot 508 or equivalent as a backup vehicle.
Retired generals will enjoy a range of other benefits, including domestic aides, residential guards, and up to $20,000 annually for medical treatment, both domestically and abroad.
The retirement perks also include the provision of five domestic aides, including two cooks, two stewards, a civilian gardener, and an aide-de-camp or security officer. A special assistant or personal assistant, three service drivers, and nine soldiers as a security detail will also be provided.
For senior officers such as lieutenant generals, the benefits include two Toyota Hilux vehicles or one Toyota Land Cruiser, along with the annual $20,000 medical allowance, two cooks, two stewards, four residential guards, and two drivers.
Major generals and brigadier generals will receive a Toyota Land Cruiser or equivalent, $15,000 for medical treatment, and domestic staff. One-star officers are entitled to a Toyota Camry, $10,000 for medical treatment, and similar domestic and security arrangements.
While the lavish benefits for senior military officers have been met with support from some quarters, several Nigerian healthcare professionals and activists have expressed deep concern.
The President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Professor Bala Audu, voiced his opposition to the provision of foreign medical treatment, stressing that any retirement benefits should be invested within Nigeria.
He called for improved healthcare infrastructure, arguing that the country should focus on upgrading its hospitals rather than relying on medical tourism.
Similarly, the President of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Professor Muhammad Muhammad, expressed disappointment at the government’s decision to make foreign medical treatment a formal entitlement, highlighting the fact that many of the doctors the service chiefs would encounter abroad are likely Nigerian.
He urged the government to invest in the Nigerian healthcare system, ensuring it is equipped to handle the needs of all Nigerians, not just the political elite.
Dr. Tope Osundara, President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), also weighed in, describing medical tourism as a major problem for Nigeria’s health sector.
He argued that the funds spent on sending government officials abroad could be better used to improve the country’s healthcare system, ensuring that Nigerians do not have to leave the country for high-quality treatment.
The lavish retirement perks have also raised concerns about the fairness of resource allocation during a time of significant economic challenges for ordinary Nigerians.
Friday Odeh, Country Director of Accountability Lab Nigeria, questioned whether the service chiefs had done enough to deserve such extravagant benefits, given the ongoing insecurity and economic difficulties faced by the nation. He called on citizens to challenge such policies, suggesting that the government’s priorities were misaligned with the needs of the broader population.
Okechukwu Nwaguma, Executive Director of the Rule of Law Advocacy and Accountability Centre, described the retirement package as a “troubling disconnect” between government actions and the realities faced by the majority of Nigerians.
He warned that such disparity could deepen public discontent and fuel perceptions of government favouritism towards elites.
As Nigeria grapples with widespread insecurity, inflation, and unemployment, the approval of such a lavish retirement package for the country’s military brass highlights the ongoing tensions between elite interests and the needs of the general populace.
The move is likely to continue to fuel public debate, with many questioning whether the government’s priorities are truly in line with the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.
