Ex-Service Chiefs To Receive Huge Lifetime Retirement Benefits

THE recently sacked service chiefs- chief of Defence staff, Gen. Chris Musa, chief of Air staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, and chief of Naval staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, would enjoy mouth-watering retirement benefits under the Armed Forces regulations.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, October 24, appointed Lt-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS); Maj-Gen. W. Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff (COAS); Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke as Chief of Air Staff (CAS), and Rear Admiral I. Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), while retaining the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Maj-Gen. E.A.P. Undiendeye.
The retirement entitlements, covered under the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service (HTCOS) for Officers and Enlisted Personnel in the Nigerian Armed Forces, signed by the President Tinubu on December 14, last year, include a bulletproof SUV or equivalent vehicle, to be maintained and replaced every four years by the military; a Peugeot 508 or equivalent backup car; five domestic aides, including two cooks, two stewards and a gardener; an aide-de-camp or security officer; a personal assistant or special assistant.
They will also retain three drivers, a service orderly and a standard guard unit of nine soldiers; lifetime medical care and firearms privileges, as well as free medical treatment, both in Nigeria and abroad, with officers of Lieutenant-General rank and equivalents entitled to medical care worth up to $20,000 yearly.
According to the HTCOS:“Retirement benefits for CDS and Service Chiefs: The following benefits shall be applicable: one bulletproof 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.”
However, this applies only if the officers have not accepted any other appointment funded from public resources, except when such an appointment is made by the President, in which case the officers will only receive allowances commensurate with the new role, rather than a full salary.
The new appointment would occasion the retirement of over 50 Generals across the services (Army, Air Force and Navy).
It has been a tradition in the military that when a junior is appointed as a service chief, those senior to him must proceed on retirement, as they are noot expected to take orders from their juniors.
The new CDS is from the 39 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), while the COAS, CAS and CNS as from the 40 Regular Course.
Interestingly, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Koyode Egbetokun, who was due to have retired, but whose tenure was extended under the a controversial amendment, was left untouched.