Following the signing of the new terms and conditions of service of the Armed Forces, President Bola Tinubu has approved mouth-watering allowances for officers of General rank, who will retire after serving 35 years.
Some of the allowances include the provision of a bulletproof SUV as take-home gift, fully paid foreign medical treatment, $20,000 as estacode while embarking on the medical trip, and payments for cooks and house helps.
The T & C
The Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers and Enlisted Personnel in the Nigerian Armed Forces, which had been in the works since the tenure of the former administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, was signed by President Bola on December 14, 2024.
Starting with the top brass of the military, it provides that the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Chief of Air Staff and other senior officers are entitled to a bulletproof SUV or its equivalent as a retirement package.
The vehicle and a backup vehicle are replaced every four years and maintained by the Armed Forces.
The retired generals will also enjoy a range of other luxurious benefits, including domestic aides and residential guards upon retirement.
Vanguard gathered that Lieutenant Generals and their equivalents will be entitled to foreign medical treatment and $20,000 annually with that of the CDS expected to be higher.
The generals will also be entitled to a Special Assistant or Personal Assistant, 3 military drivers, and a military orderly, with escorts provided by individual military units.
Domestic staff
Each retiring service chief is also entitled to five domestic staff, comprising two cooks, two stewards, and a civilian gardener, along with an ADC/Security Officer.
It read: “The following benefits shall be applicable: One bullet-proof SUV or equivalent vehicle to be maintained by the Service and to be replaced every four years.
“One Peugeot 508 or equivalent backup vehicle.
‘’Retention of all military uniforms and accoutrement to be worn for appropriate ceremonies; five domestic aides (two service cooks, two stewards and one civilian gardener); one Aide-de-Camp/security officer; one Special Assistant (Lt/Capt or equivalents) or one Personal Assistant (Warrant Officer or equivalents); standard guard (nine soldiers).
“Three service drivers; one service orderly; escorts (to be provided by appropriate military units/ formation as the need arises); retention of personal firearms (on his demise, the personal firearm(s) shall be retrieved by the relevant service) and free medical cover in Nigeria and abroad.
“These are Retirement benefits for CDS and Service Chiefs.
Lieutenant generals
“For other senior officers such as lieutenant generals and equivalents, they are entitled to two Toyota Hilux vehicles or one Toyota Land Cruiser, along with $20,000 annual medical treatment, two cooks, two stewards, four residential guards and two drivers.
“Lieutenant generals and equivalents will receive two Toyota Hilux vehicles or one Toyota Land Cruiser, along with $20,000 annual medical treatment, two cooks, two stewards, four residential guards, and two drivers.
“Retirement benefits for lieutenant general/equivalents, the following benefits shall be applicable: Officers of three-star rank.
“Two Toyota Hilux Vehicles or one Toyota Land cruiser or equivalent jeep of the same value; two Cooks; two Stewards; four residential guards; one service orderly; two service drivers and free medicals in Nigeria and abroad to the tune of $20,000 per year.”
The Federal Government also approved for Major-Generals and Brigadier-Generals the a Toyota Land Cruiser or equivalent, $15,000 annual medical treatment, domestic staff, and residential guards.
One-star generals are expected to receive $10,000 annually for medical care, a Toyota Camry or equivalent and similar domestic and security arrangements.
“For major-generals/brigadier-generals and equivalents, the following benefits shall be applicable: One Toyota Land Cruiser or equivalent car of the same value.
“One cook; One steward, two residential guards; One service orderly; One driver; Free medicals in Nigeria, and abroad to the tune of $15,000 per annum.
“Officers of One-Star rank (Brig. Gen.): One Toyota Camry or equivalent car of the same value; One service driver; two residential guards; One orderly and free medicals in Nigeria and abroad to the tune of $10,000 per annum.’’
Colonel
Colonels and their equivalents are to get a Toyota Corolla or its equivalent and free medical care within Nigeria.
Vanguard, however, recalls that the practice of rewarding retired service chiefs and retired generals and equivalents with mouth-watering benefits is not a new thing as it has been the status quo.
Only difference is that the new HTACOS has reviewed the benefits upward in line with the present/prevailing socio-economic realities of the country.
