The recently removed Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, along with former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, and former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, are set to receive extensive retirement benefits following their exit from service.
Their benefits include bulletproof official vehicles, personal domestic aides, and lifetime medical care, among other entitlements.
The development comes after President Bola Tinubu on Friday named a new set of service chiefs as part of what the Presidency described as a strategic effort to reinforce the nation’s security leadership.
General Olufemi Oluyede has been appointed the new Chief of Defence Staff, while Major-General W. Shaibu is the new Chief of Army Staff. Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke assumes office as Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral I. Abbas becomes the Chief of Naval Staff. The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye, will remain in his position.
In a statement issued on Friday, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, said the reshuffle was aimed at strengthening national security coordination and operational efficiency across the military.
However, the retirement package for the outgoing service chiefs has sparked criticism among some retired military personnel. They argued that while top officers are rewarded with high-end benefits, many junior and mid-level soldiers continue to grapple with unpaid pensions, delayed gratuities, and inadequate welfare support.
According to them, the imbalance highlights longstanding concerns over equity, morale, and compensation within the armed forces.
They called on the Federal Government to prioritize the welfare of rank-and-file personnel who served in high-risk operations, many of whom, they said, return to civilian life with little support after years of sacrifice.
