Ruling All Progressives Congress and major opposition parties in the country have disagreed over the humongous N27bn voted by the Federal Government for the entitlements of Former Presidents, Vice Presidents, Heads of State, Chiefs of staff and Retired Heads of Service in the 2025 Fiscal Year.
Beneficiaries of this allocation include former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari, alongside Ex-Vice-Presidents Atiku Abubakar, Namadi Sambo, and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
Others expected to benefit are ex-military Heads of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.) and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), as well as former military President, Ibrahim Babangida, and retired Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe.
President Bola Tinubu presented the 2025 budget, titled ‘Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity,’ to a joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday.
However, the opposition called for transparency regarding the allocation for the former Presidents, insisting that Nigerians have a right to know the purpose of the funds.
Reacting, the Peoples Democratic Party Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, stated that millions of Nigerians are in need of the funds, not the former leaders.
He said, this government is so erratic and think it is immune to public criticisms, insensitive to public opinion, and lacks any integrity to protect or care for and lamented that the budget is a clear testament that the President Tinubu is not in touch with reality.
