Retired soldiers have expressed anger over the generous lifetime benefits approved for the recently dismissed service chiefs, calling the package unfair to lower-ranking officers who are still waiting for their own entitlements.
The former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, alongside Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar and Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, will receive lifetime perks including bulletproof vehicles, domestic staff, security aides, and free medical care within and outside Nigeria.
Their exit followed President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of new service chiefs on Friday — General Olufemi Oluyede (Chief of Defence Staff), Major-General W. Shaibu (Chief of Army Staff), Air Vice Marshal Sunday Aneke (Chief of Air Staff), and Rear Admiral I. Abbas (Chief of Naval Staff). Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye retained his position as Chief of Defence Intelligence.
Under the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers and Enlisted Personnel signed by President Tinubu in December 2024, each service chief is entitled to a bulletproof SUV and a backup Peugeot 508, both maintained by the military and replaced every four years. They will also have five domestic aides, three drivers, an aide-de-camp or security officer, and a nine-man guard team.
The document also allows them to retain personal firearms until their death and enjoy medical treatment both locally and abroad. However, these benefits will be suspended if they accept any government-funded appointment, except when approved directly by the President.
Many retired soldiers say they feel betrayed by the government’s treatment of former top officers. Sgt. Zaki Williams, who leads a group of over 700 retired soldiers still awaiting their benefits, said it was painful to see the government prioritising luxury perks for generals while neglecting junior officers.
“The people at the top always look after themselves. We served the same country, yet we have nothing to show for it,” he said. “Many of us can’t even afford decent housing or medical care.”
Another retired officer, Abdul Isiak, said many of his colleagues were struggling to survive, adding that several had died waiting for their pension. “We are still waiting for what is rightfully ours, but it feels like no one cares,” he said.
Military insiders say more than 50 senior officers may be forced to retire following the appointment of new service chiefs. Tradition dictates that officers senior to newly appointed service chiefs must step aside, paving the way for promotions and new postings.
According to reports, officers from the 39th and 40th Regular Courses of the Nigerian Defence Academy are expected to remain in service, while those from earlier courses will likely be retired.
The changes have also sparked debate over President Tinubu’s decision to retain the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. PDP chieftain Bode George said the President’s decision was within his right but maintained that insecurity would persist unless Nigeria adopts state policing.
However, the New Nigeria Peoples Party questioned why the IGP was retained despite reaching the retirement age, while other service chiefs were replaced.
Parties like the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Young Progressives Party (YPP) defended the President, saying his decisions were based on national security considerations.
As the military prepares for a wave of retirements, frustration continues to grow among junior and retired soldiers who say the system rewards hierarchy over hard work and sacrifice.
