….Sets aside N13.8billion for Buhari, Atiku, others
By Chibuike Nwabuko
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – In a move to fulfil his own part of the bargain with Nigerian workers, the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government has earmarked the sum of N1trillion for the public service wage adjustment of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (including arrears of promotion and salary increases, and payment of severance benefits and minimum wage-related adjustments) in the 2024 fiscal year.
Similarly, the federal government has set aside the sum of N13.8 billion for the upkeep of former presidents Muhammadu Buhari, Goodluck Jonathan and Olusegun Obasanjo.
Sundiata Post recalls that further details of the 2024 budget also show that former vice presidents Yemi Osinbajo, Namadi Sambo and Atiku Abubakar will also benefit from the largesse.
The amount will also cater for the upkeep of heads of state, chiefs of general staff, retired heads of service, permanent secretaries, as well as retired heads of government agencies and parastatals.
Expected to benefit from the allocation are ex-military Heads of State, General Yakubu Gowon and General Abdusalami Abubakar, as well as a former dictator and self-styled military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, and a former Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (retd.).
A breakdown shows that the entitlements of former presidents/heads of states and vice-presidents/chief of general staff will cost N2.3 billion, while N10.5 billion is proposed as benefits for retired heads of service, permanent secretaries and professors.
The payment of severance benefits to retired heads of government agencies and parastatals is proposed to cost N1billion.
Other allocations include N65 billion for the Presidential Amnesty Programme for the reintegration of transformed ex-militants; N1 billion for the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Energy; and N108 billion for unnamed special projects.
Recall that Nigerians have been consistent in condenming the setting aside of whopping sums of money from annual budgets of federal and states governments for upkeep of these ex-leaders who were central actors to the economic woes pleaguing us as a nation today.
