President Bola Tinubu has approved a new retirement package for service chiefs and generals, including a $20,000 annual medical allowance for foreign treatment, bulletproof SUVs, and domestic staff.
According to the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers and Enlisted Personnel in the Nigerian Armed Forces (HTACOS), signed by President Tinubu on December 14, 2024, 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, 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.
“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.’’
