The Federal Government has allocated a whopping ₦27bn 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.
According to Saturday Punch investigation, the beneficiaries of this allocation include prominent figures such as former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari, alongside ex-Vice-Presidents Atiku Abubakar, Namadi Sambo, and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
Military leaders like Generals Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and former Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, are also listed as beneficiaries.
The allocation is part of the ₦49.70tn 2025 budget, tagged the ‘Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity,’ presented by President Bola Tinubu to the National Assembly on Wednesday.
The budget prioritizes defence, infrastructure, and human capital development, with a ₦13.39tn deficit set to be financed through borrowing.
Of the total ₦27bn:
– ₦2.3bn is allocated for former presidents, vice-presidents, and heads of state.
– ₦10.5bn is designated for retired heads of service and permanent secretaries.
– ₦13.5bn is set aside for retired professors in universities.
– ₦1bn will be directed towards retired heads of government agencies and parastatals.
The appropriation bill documents also reveal:
– ₦1.4tn for pensions, gratuities, and retirees’ benefits.
– ₦46bn for civilian pensions under the Office of the Head of Civil Service.
– ₦383.9bn for military pensions and gratuities.
– ₦66.8bn for expected retirees in 2025.
– ₦434m for administrative charges and N870m for medical retirees.
Specific provisions include:
– ₦2.7bn for gratuity arrears from January 2019 to December 2021.
– ₦2.2bn for death benefits over the same period.
– ₦43bn for security debarment allowances, including arrears for 2017, 2018, and 2019.
– ₦330m for pension arrears linked to minimum wage adjustments.
The budget also earmarks:
₦24.8bn for pensions and arrears under the Department of State Security.
₦42bn for the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate.
₦10.4bn for police pensions and gratuities.
₦10.3bn for university pensions, including arrears.
₦43.4bn for parastatals and railway pensions.
Additionally, the National Pension Commission is set to receive N804.7bn, while death benefits are pegged at:
₦35bn for deceased military personnel.
₦4.2bn for civil servants.
₦3.5bn for police officers.
The budget also provides for verification exercises, with N814m allocated for this purpose, and N1.86bn for pension arrears.