By Abiola Olawale
Indications emerging on Saturday have shown that the Federal Government of Nigeria has allocated a whopping N27 billion for the entitlements of former presidents, vice-presidents, heads of state, chiefs of staff, retired heads of service, and professors in the 2025 fiscal year.
This allocation includes benefits for prominent political leaders such as former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari, along with former Vice-Presidents Atiku Abubakar, Namadi Sambo, and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
Additionally, ex-military Heads of State like Gen. Yakubu Gowon and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, as well as Ibrahim Babangida and retired Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, are also among the beneficiaries.
According to a report, the allocation is part of the N49.70 trillion budget for 2025.
It would be recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented the 2025 budget before a joint session of the National Assembly days ago.
A breakdown of the 2025 appropriation bill revealed that the Federal Government earmarked N1.4tn for pensions, gratuities, and retirees’ benefits.
A total allocation of N27 billion has been announced for various retired government officials and esteemed individuals in academia. Out of this sum, N2.3 billion is specifically earmarked for former presidents, heads of state, and vice presidents, acknowledging their significant contributions to the nation’s leadership. In addition, retired heads of service and permanent secretaries are set to receive a substantial N10.5 billion, reflecting their vital roles in the administration.
Retired university professors are expected to benefit from an allocated N13.5 billion.
Also, retired heads of government agencies and parastatals will receive N1 billion.
The budget further reveals that N46bn is allocated for civilian pensions under the Office of the Head of Civil Service, while N383.9bn is earmarked for military pensions and gratuities.
An additional N66.8bn is budgeted for expected retirees, with N434m allocated for administrative charges, N596m for pension running costs, and N870m for medical retirees.
Provisions were also made for gratuity arrears covering January 2019 to December 2021, with N2.7bn allocated for this purpose.
Pension arrears are pegged at N1.86bn, while N2.2bn is set aside for death benefits accrued during the same period.
