The Nigerian government has set a a staggering sum of N13,805,814,220 for the upkeep of surviving former presidents, vice-presidents, heads of state, Chiefs of General Staff, retired heads of states, permanent secretaries, and retired heads of government agencies and parastatals 2024 fiscal year.
This comes as details of the budget have been released “to allay the fears of lawmakers and Nigerians, according to the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Solomon Adeola.
The beneficiaries include former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, as well as ex-vice-presidents Atiku Abubakar, Namadi Sambo and Prof Yemi Osinbajo.
Notably, this windfall will also benefit ex-military Heads of State General Yakubu Gowon, General Abdusalami Abubakar, former military President General Ibrahim Babangida, and former Chief of General Staff Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (retd.)
Under the approved expenditure for the 2024 fiscal year, former presidents, vice-presidents and head of stateswill be entitled to N2.3bn, while N10.5bn is proposed as benefits for retired heads of service, permanent secretaries and professors.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, PBAT, on Wednesday, 29th November 2023, presented the proposed N27.5 trillion 2024 budget to a joint session of the 10th National Assembly in Abuja.
The Tinubu administration plans to spend 27.5 trillion naira ($34.85bn; £27bn) in the new financial year.
