In a budgetary move that has stirred public debate, the Federal Government has earmarked a staggering N13,805,814,220 for the 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 upcoming fiscal year 2024.
Prominent figures set to benefit from this allocation include former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari, along with ex-vice presidents Atiku Abubakar, Namadi Sambo, and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
Military heads of state, such as General Yakubu Gowon, General Abdusalami Abubakar, General Ibrahim Babangida, and former Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (retd.), are also listed among the beneficiaries of Maintenance allowance .
The budget breakdown reveals that N1 trillion has been allocated for public service wage adjustments, covering government ministries, departments, and agencies, including arrears of promotion and salary increases, as well as severance benefits and minimum wage-related adjustments.
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A closer look at the figures shows that the entitlements of past presidents/leaders of states and vice presidents/chiefs of general staff will cost N2.3 billion for Maintenance, while retired heads of service, permanent secretaries, and professors will account for N10.5 billion.
Severance payments to retiring heads of government agencies and parastatals are estimated to cost N1 billion.
In addition to these allocations, N65 billion has been designated for the Presidential Amnesty Programme to reintegrate transformed ex-militants, N1 billion for the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Energy, and N108 billion for unspecified special projects.
Notably, the government is proposing a substantial sum of N40 billion to settle electricity arrears owed by all MDAs to power distribution firms.