THE CAMPAIGN for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) has condemned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his recent approval of jumbo salaries, allowances and huge perks for serving and retiring Nigeria’s top military officers.
Describing the approved pay package as “a disservice to the toiling Nigerian workers and masses”, CDWR, in a press statement signed by Comrades Rufus Olusesan and Chinedu Bosah, its National Chairperson and National Publicity Secretary respectively, said this was done while those who labour to create the wealth of the country are being subjected to poverty wage and pension.
It could be recalled that President Tinubu on December 14, 2024, signed the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers and Enlisted Personnel in the Nigerian Armed Forces (HTACOS).
According to the HTACOS, retiring Chiefs of Defence Staff (CDS) and service chiefs will receive a bulletproof SUV (replaced every four years and maintained by the military), a Peugeot 508 or equivalent backup vehicle, five domestic aides (two cooks, two stewards, and a gardener), a security officer or aide-de-camp (ADC), a special or personal assistant, three drivers, a service orderly, and escorts as needed.
They will also retain their personal firearms. The document also stipulates “free medical cover in Nigeria and abroad” for these top-ranking officers.
Lieutenant generals and their equivalents will receive two Toyota Hilux vehicles or one Toyota Land Cruiser, $20,000 annually for medical treatment, two cooks, two stewards, four residential guards, two drivers, and a service orderly.
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“Retirement benefits for CDS and Service Chiefs: 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,” the document read.
“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.
“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.”
Major generals and brigadier generals will receive a Toyota Land Cruiser or equivalent, $15,000 annually for medical treatment, domestic staff, and residential guards.
One-star officers (Brigadier Generals) are entitled to $10,000 annually for medical care, a Toyota Camry or equivalent, and similar domestic and security arrangements. Colonels and their equivalents will receive a Toyota Corolla or equivalent and free medical care within Nigeria.
“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.”
It’s class-apartheid
Describing the approved package as and unfair and class-apartheid, CDWR is demanding an end to the emolument system in Nigeria which favours serving and retiring military officers, judges and top political officers.
Rather, CDWR is demanding for an increment of workers’ wages/salaries to living wage in line with the current inflation rate.
“The $20,000 medical tourism abroad similar to the benefits accruable to top political office holders (past governors and presidents) is one of the reasons our medical services and healthcare in Nigeria is largely neglected, poorly funded and backwards,” stated CDWR, and noted that at a period when Nigerian doctors, nurses and other professionals were relocating abroad because of poor remunerations and funding of public healthcare in the country, the approval of medical tourism for top generals was an ill-advised policy that would deepen the rot in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
According to CDWR, instead of promoting medical tourism, a serious government would prioritise adequate funding of public healthcare, improvement in the pay and conditions of healthcare professionals and the provision of medical insurance in order to ensure that all Nigerian citizens, including political office holders, patronise the public healthcare system.
The full statement reads:
January 8, 2025
PRESS STATEMENT
PRESIDENT TINUBU’S APPROVAL OF $20,000 FOREIGN MEDICAL TREATMENT, BULLET-PROOF SUVS AND OTHER PERKS AS RETIREMENT PACKAGE FOR TOP GENERALS IN THE MILITARY IS AN INSULT TO NIGERIAN WORKERS AND MASSES
CDWR DEMANDS REVERSAL OF ALL EXTRAVAGANT SERVING AND RETIREMENT PACKAGES FOR THE MILITARY, JUDGES AND TOP POLITICAL OFFICE HOLDERS
It is a disservice to the toiling Nigerian workers and masses for President Tinubu to approve jumbo salaries, allowances and outrageous perks for serving and retiring generals and top military officers while subjecting those who labour to create the wealth of the country to poverty wage and pension. This approval was done through the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers and Enlisted Personnel in the Nigerian Armed Forces wherein the Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs and top military generals are entitled to $20,000 (about N32,000.000) local/international medical treatment annually, bullet-proof SUVs and other perks.
The $20,000 medical tourism abroad similar to the benefits accruable to top political office holders (past governors and presidents) is one of the reasons our medical services and healthcare in Nigeria is largely neglected, poorly funded and backward. At a period when Nigerian doctors, nurses and other professionals are relocating abroad in droves because of poor remunerations and funding of public healthcare in the country, this approval of medical tourism for top generals is an ill-advised policy that will further deepen the rot in Nigeria’s healthcare system. Instead of promoting medical tourism, a serious government would prioritize adequate funding of public healthcare, improvement in the pay and conditions of healthcare professionals and the provision of medical insurance in order to ensure that all Nigerian citizens including political office holders patronize the public healthcare system.
Similarly, jumbo allowances and perks were approved for judges last year (August 2024) by President Tinubu that jerk up the salaries and allowances by 300%. Before the astronomical increase of their salaries and allowances, judges already earned jumbo emoluments. In the same vein, top political office holders like governors, legislators, president award to themselves outrageous salaries and allowances aside from several other ‘legalized looting’.
That the same government and President Tinubu who finds it impossible to pay Nigerian workers living wage but conveniently approves all manners of jumbo salaries, allowances and perks for top political office holders, judges and military top brass speaks volume. Workers create wealth but the ruling capitalist politicians decide the allocation and in the process condemn workers to penury and misery. The N70, 000 minimum wage approved for workers cannot feed an average family and meet their other needs considering the high cost of living.
The capitalist government is paying and pampering military officers, judges and political office holders to enable it use them to hold down the working class and ensure the seamless exploitation of the working class.
Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) demands an end to this unfair and class-apartheid emolument system. CDWR demands increment of workers’ wages/salaries to living wage and to be increased in line with inflationary rate. We also demand the abrogation of jumbo/outrageous salaries and allowances of political office holders, judges, top military officers and its reduction to the average wage and allowances of skilled workers.
Comrade Rufus Olusesan Comrade Chinedu Bosah
National Chairperson National Publicity Secretary
