In the maiden budget of President Tinubu presented to the National Assembly for scrutiny, the total sum of N13,805,814,220 has been reserved for maintenance of former presidents, vice presidents, chiefs of state, chiefs of general staff, retired heads of service, permanent secretaries, and retired heads of government agencies and parastatals in the fiscal year 2024.
Renowned beneficiaries of this ‘manna from heaven’ are Former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari. Also included are, ex-vice presidents Atiku Abubakar, Namadi Sambo, and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
Other beneficiaries are ex-military heads of state, General Yakubu Gowon, General Abdusalami Abubakar, General Ibrahim Babangida, and a former Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (retd.).
The entitlements of past presidents/leaders of states and vice presidents/chiefs of general staff will cost N2.3 billion, while retired heads of service, permanent secretaries, and professors will cost N10.5 billion.
In the same vein, severance payments to retiring heads of government agencies and parastatals are estimated to cost N1 billion.