Date: July 3, 2023- Human rights activist and former federal lawmaker, Shehu Sani, has expressed strong disapproval over the alleged lavish severance packages granted to the recently removed Service Chiefs in Nigeria. Sani voiced his criticism through a post on his social media page, attracting widespread attention.
In his viral tweet, Sani questioned the rationale behind rewarding the ex-Service Chiefs with enticing benefits after they seemingly failed to address the growing challenges posed by terrorists and bandits in the country. Reports indicated that the Chief of Defence Staff and other Service Chiefs received bulletproof Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), personal aides, security personnel, and other perks as part of their retirement benefits. They were also said to be entitled to generous allowances for medical treatment abroad.
Through his verified Twitter handle, Sani stated, “The other service chiefs left us with terrorists and were rewarded with ambassadorial appointments; these ones left us with bandits and were rewarded with SUVs.”
President Bola Tinubu made the decision to remove all Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, advisers, and the Comptroller-General of Customs shortly after his inauguration on May 29. He subsequently appointed new individuals to fill those positions.
Shehu Sani’s criticism reflects the concerns of many Nigerians who feel that rewarding the ousted Service Chiefs with lavish severance packages sends the wrong message, considering the security challenges the country continues to face. The debate surrounding these generous benefits raises questions about accountability and the prioritization of national security in the face of ongoing threats.