President Bola Tinubu has approved a controversial retirement package for top military officers, including $20,000 annually for foreign medical treatment, bulletproof SUVs, and domestic staff.
The announcement has drawn sharp criticism from the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), and the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
The new package, outlined in the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Armed Forces personnel and signed by Tinubu on December 14, 2024, includes luxury benefits for retiring service chiefs and generals.
Among these are a bulletproof SUV, replaced every four years and maintained by the military, and a backup vehicle, typically a Peugeot 508 or equivalent.
Retirees will also receive personal aides, cooks, residential guards, and a range of other perks.
Lieutenant generals and their equivalents are allocated $20,000 annually for medical care, two vehicles, two cooks, two stewards, and four guards.
Major generals and brigadier generals are entitled to slightly less, with $15,000 or $10,000 medical allowances and similar domestic benefits.
Critics argue that these packages are excessive, especially given the economic challenges faced by most Nigerians.
NMA President Prof. Bala Audu insisted retirement benefits should focus on local investments, particularly within Nigeria’s healthcare system.
MDCAN’s Prof. Muhammad Muhammad echoed these concerns, highlighting the government’s lack of confidence in local hospitals, as the package includes official provisions for foreign medical treatment.
“This reflects poorly on Nigeria’s healthcare system. Instead of investing in local facilities, we’re sending money abroad, often to meet Nigerian doctors there,” Muhammad said.
The president of NARD, Dr. Tope Osundara, called the arrangement an example of misplaced priorities.
“We have the expertise here. Why not upgrade our hospitals and make healthcare accessible for everyone instead of enriching foreign economies?” he asked.
Civil society groups also voiced disapproval.
Accountability Lab Nigeria’s Friday Odeh described the perks as extravagant, given ongoing insecurity, poverty, and failing public services.
“This raises serious questions about priorities when millions of Nigerians are struggling,” he said.
Okechukwu Nwaguma, Executive Director of the Rule of Law Advocacy and Accountability Centre, criticised the government for appearing disconnected from citizens’ struggles.
He warned that such actions risk deepening public distrust.
