President Bola Tinubu has signed into law a luxurious retirement package for military service chiefs and top-ranking officers, offering perks like bulletproof SUVs, substantial medical allowances, domestic aides, and enhanced security.
This development, part of the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service (HTCOS) for Officers and Enlisted Personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces, was enacted on December 14, 2024.
According to the document obtained by Punch, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and other service chiefs are entitled to a bulletproof SUV or its equivalent, replaced every four years, with maintenance handled by the military. They will also receive a Peugeot 508 or a comparable backup vehicle.
The package includes annual foreign medical treatment allowances of up to $20,000 for generals, with higher allowances for the CDS and service chiefs. Each retiree will also retain their military uniforms and accoutrements for ceremonial purposes.
For domestic arrangements, retirees will have access to five aides—two cooks, two stewards, and one gardener—as well as a personal assistant, three drivers, and an orderly. Security will include an aide-de-camp or security officer and necessary military escorts.
The HTCOS document details the benefits, stating:
- Service Chiefs and CDS: A bulletproof SUV replaced every four years, a backup vehicle, $20,000 annual medical allowance, and five domestic aides.
- Lieutenant Generals and Equivalents: Two Toyota Hilux vehicles or one Toyota Land Cruiser, $20,000 for medical care, four residential guards, two drivers, and domestic staff.
- Major Generals and Brigadier Generals: A Toyota Land Cruiser or equivalent, $15,000 annual medical allowance, and domestic aides including a cook, steward, and guards.
- One-Star Officers (Brigadier Generals): A Toyota Camry or equivalent, $10,000 annual medical allowance, residential guards, and a driver.
- Colonels and Equivalents: A Toyota Corolla or equivalent and free medical care within Nigeria.
The HTCOS also grants officers the right to retain personal firearms, with retrieval mandated upon their demise.
This comprehensive retirement package underscores the Federal Government’s recognition of the contributions of military leaders while raising questions about its implications amidst national economic challenges.
