Reactions as ex-service chiefs go home with bulletproof SUVs, 12  soldiers each, among other largesse  

Nigerians have criticised the move by the military to dole out four bulletproof Sport Utility Vehicles, personal aides, guards and other perks of office, including generous allowance for medical treatment to ousted service chiefs. 

The senior military officers to benefit from the retirement largesse are the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao.

According to a report by Punch, the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria 2017 (revised), listed the benefits of the retired Generals upon leaving the respective services.

The report states that Section 11.8 of the HTACOS 2017, listed the benefits of a retiring CDS and service chiefs to include one bulletproof SUV or equivalent vehicle to be maintained by the service and to be replaced every four years; Peugeot 508 or equivalent backup vehicle; and five domestic aides made up of two service cooks, two stewards and a civilian gardener.

Each of them is also entitled to an Aide-de-Camp/security officer; special assistant of a lieutenant/captain or equivalent, or personal assistant of the rank of warrant officer or equivalent; and nine standard guards of nine soldiers.

The immediate past CDS and service chiefs are also entitled to three service drivers; one service orderly; escorts to be provided by the appropriate military units/formations as the need arises; and free medical cover in Nigeria and abroad.

They are also to retain all military uniforms and accoutrements to be worn for appropriate ceremonies, as well as personal firearms. However, such firearms shall be retrieved by the relevant services upon the death of the beneficiaries.

A lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, criticised the retirement benefits for the service chiefs, describing it as outrageous. 

He said via his Twitter handle @InibeheEffiong: “This is what Ex-Service Chiefs who did not stop mass killings of Nigerians in different parts of the country are getting as retirement benefits, according to the Punch Newspaper. The same Service Chiefs who have not accounted for the trillions spent under Buhari to fight terror. They want citizens to make sacrifices, but those in leadership positions are amassing more wealth and resources for themselves. A country with debilitating debts is devoting so much resources to appease a few.”

@ahmed_johnsn said: “Are they now treated like political office holders or where did they get the budgetary allocation for such spending.”

@trueAFICIONADO said: “The leaders who are meant to be servant leaders are overprotected more than the common man who are supposed to get the protections.”

@K3N_TH said: “If they had secured the country they wouldn’t be needing all that security detail!”

But @Speedy504272960 said: “It’s a normal retirement benefit for military men who attain such heights in their career. I have visited a number of such retired military men with the ubiquitous presence of military guards at their residence.”