You see, dear reader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has just affixed his name to a policy that would make a king envious. The good Interior Minister made the announcement at what they call a "Ministerial Retreat" in Abuja, sounding proud as a peacock.
What's this new arrangement, you ask? Indeed, it's about ensuring that specific high-ranking officers will never stop collecting their full salary until the day they depart this mortal coil. But heed this observation - this luxurious arrangement ain't for ordinary civil servants.No sir! This extraordinary benefit is exclusively for those fortunate souls who retire at the elevated positions of the uppermost tiers of authority in agencies under the Interior Ministry's umbrella.
The official reason – and I relay this without a wink – is to prevent these distinguished individuals from facing financial hardship. Imagine that! As if a high-ranking official with a lifetime in authority would be found wanting.
This interesting measure comes alongside other reforms including clearing a pile of over 50,000 pending promotions and establishing what they're calling a "world-class Fire Academy" to rival the one in Arizona. Development proceeds, or so they claim.
Throughout my observations of administrations concoct ways to reward their own, but this lifetime salary arrangement takes the cake. A body has to question: Why not extend such liberality to every government worker? Even more appropriately, to the regular people whose money pays these salaries?The difference with other government employees remains stark as midnight. Many a police retiree still bide their time for pensions that barely cover basic needs.
In bringing this tale to a close, I must circle back to our topic: the lifetime compensation of Nigeria's senior officers. This August 2025 decision reveals encyclopedias about the concerns of those who govern. And that, esteemed audience, is a reality worth reflecting upon long after you've set aside this writing.
