Retiring Military Generals to Receive
Retiring military generals in Nigeria are set to receive an attractive retirement package approved by President Bola Tinubu. This package includes $20,000 for international medical treatment, bulletproof SUVs, domestic aides, and more, as outlined in the newly signed Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service (HTACOS).
The approval, announced on December 16, 2024, by Dada Olusegun, the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, introduces several high-value benefits for retiring generals.
Key Benefits for Retiring Generals
1. Vehicle Allowance and Maintenance
- Retiring service chiefs and generals will receive bulletproof SUVs, backed by a Peugeot 508 or a similar vehicle.
- These vehicles will be replaced every four years and maintained by the military.
2. Medical Allowance
- Generals and their equivalents will be entitled to up to $20,000 annually for international and local medical treatments.
3. Domestic Aides and Security
- Each retiring service chief will receive five domestic aides, including two cooks, two stewards, and a civilian gardener.
- They will also be provided with an aide-de-camp (ADC) or security officer, alongside three service drivers, a service orderly, and additional escorts as required.
4.Uniform Retention
- Retired generals will retain their military uniforms and accoutrements for ceremonial use.
5.Personal Firearms
- Generals can keep personal firearms, which will only be retrieved by the military after their passing.
Additional Perks for Other Officers
Major Generals and Brigadier Generals
- Entitled to a Toyota Land Cruiser or equivalent, $15,000 for annual medical treatment, domestic staff, and residential guards.
One-Star Officers
- To receive $10,000 annually for medical care, a Toyota Camry or equivalent vehicle, along with domestic and security staff.
Colonels and Equivalents
- Benefits include a Toyota Corolla or equivalent and free medical care within Nigeria.
The retirement package has drawn criticism from several professional bodies, including the **Nigerian Medical Association (NMA)**, **Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN)**, and the **Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD)**.
NMA President Bala Audu suggested that the funds allocated for foreign medical treatments could be better invested in Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure, encouraging government officials to receive treatment locally.
While the benefits for serving chiefs of defense staff and service chiefs remain unspecified, they are expected to surpass those of their retiring counterparts
The HTACOS retirement package has sparked a debate about the equitable use of national resources. As Nigeria continues to grapple with pressing challenges in healthcare and public infrastructure, questions linger about the broader implications of such generous perks.
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