Stop medical tourism, develop our hospitals — Nigerians tell Tinubu
…Say many citizens can’t afford most basic medical treatments
Nigerians have faulted the approval of a lavish retirement package for service chiefs and generals, including $20,000 annually for foreign medical treatment, bulletproof SUVs, and domestic aides, among other benefits by President Bola Tinubu.
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They described the gesture as discriminatory and insensitive when several millions of Nigerians have little or no access to basic and affordable medical services.
The approval of the retirement package came as retired military personnel held a protest at the Ministry of Finance, demanding the full payment of their outstanding entitlements. They gathered outside the ministry, setting up canopies and chairs to block access, causing a disruption to regular operations.
President Tinubu signed the retirement package into law on December 14, 2024, as part of the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers and Enlisted Personnel in the Nigerian Armed Forces. The HTCOS read: “Retirement benefits for CDS and Service Chiefs: The following benefits shall be applicable: One bullet-proof SUV or equivalent vehicle to be maintained by the Service and to be replaced every four years. One Peugeot 508 or equivalent backup vehicle.
‘’Retention of all military uniforms and accoutrement to be worn for appropriate ceremonies; five domestic aides (two service cooks, two stewards and one civilian gardener); one Aide-de-Camp/security officer; one Special Assistant (Lt/Capt or equivalents) or one Personal Assistant (Warrant Officer or equivalents); standard guard (nine soldiers).
“Three service drivers; one service orderly; escorts (to be provided by appropriate military units/ formation as the need arises); retention of personal firearms (on his demise, the personal firearm(s) shall be retrieved by the relevant service) and free medical cover in Nigeria and abroad.
“Retirement benefits for lieutenant general/equivalents. The following benefits shall be applicable: Officers of three-star rank. Two Toyota Hilux Vehicles or one Toyota Land cruiser or equivalent jeep of the same value; two Cooks; two Stewards; four residential guards; one service orderly; two service drivers and free medicals in Nigeria and abroad to the tune of $20,000 per year.
“For major-generals/brigadier-generals and equivalents, the following benefits shall be applicable: One Toyota Land Cruiser or equivalent car of the same value. One cook; One steward, two residential guards; One service orderly; One driver; Free medicals in Nigeria, and abroad to the tune of $15,000 per annum. Officers of One-Star rank (Brig. Gen.): One Toyota Camry or equivalent car of the same value; One service driver; two residential guards; One orderly and free medicals in Nigeria and abroad to the tune of $10,000 per annum.’’ Colonels and their equivalents are to get a Toyota Corolla or its equivalent and free medical care within Nigeria.
Reacting to the development, some Nigerians argued that it was a sheer misapplication of funds within the context of Nigeria’s wider healthcare challenges, which include significant healthcare disparities, inadequate infrastructure, and acute shortage of medical personnel. Some people even construed it as a design to entice ex-military leaders. They therefore urged the president to halt medical tourism and fund the country’s health sector to benefit all citizens.
President of the apex Ijaw ethnic nationality group, Ijaw National Congress, INC, Prof Benjamin Okaba, said: “The recent approval and allocation of $20,000 as annual allowance for foreign medical treatment for retired generals by the President Tinubu’s administration has, among other things, inadvertently raised critical questions and worries about the inadequacies of the Nigerian healthcare system.
This misallocation of resources is better understood when viewed within the context of Nigeria’s wider healthcare challenges, which include significant healthcare disparities, inadequate infrastructure, and acute shortage of medical personnel (arising from brain drain).
This generous allowance for retired generals’ foreign medical treatment while several millions of Nigerians have little or no access to basic and affordable medical services, particularly those living in rural communities across the nation, is a decision that perpetuates inequality and disparity in a country where no one should be seen as inferior citizens.
We have the equivalents of retired generals by all standards in other professions. Why are they (retired generals) treated as sacred cows? The fact that the retired generals also opted for foreign medical care shows that the investment in our local medical and other social infrastructure needs to be improved upon to the extent that any citizen seeking good and affordable medicare, and good quality education must look inwards. That should be the target of every responsible government all over the globe.”
It is selective, runs contrary to service codes —Ayo Fadaka
Hon Ayo Fadaka, a political analyst, argued that “the new retirement package to service chiefs is in outright bad taste, it is selective and runs contrary to service codes. It pointedly elevated heads of military establishment as super officials of government and this is wrong. Both civil and military services have their codified conditions of service and retirement, therefore this new one by Tinubu’s administration for the military is certainly propelled by something else.
If you like, call it an appeasement, initiated by fear and tenure insecurity, you may be right. However I trust it is only the citizens that can safeguard our democracy and the tenure of our President.
The most obscene of all the retirement benefits is the provision of $20,000 for medical upkeep of the retired fellows, this completely underscores the absolute lack of commitment to a proper upgrade of our health sector and its upkeep. Since 2015, there has been a very clear disengagement of government at all levels towards equipping our hospitals to the required level to deliver adequate healthcare to the citizens.
Nigerians are dying in millions yearly because of an inept hospital system and the government appears unconcerned to this callous development. History continues to bear witness to the fact that in the 1960s, Nigeria was a healthcare destination as the King of Saudi Arabia was once at the UCH for medical attention, that was when we had patriotic leaders. Do we still have that class of leaders in Nigeria? The answer is a clear no! Our presidents obviously cared majorly about themselves, families and friends, not Nigerians.
“They surely have not taken a view of the fact that many Nigerians share the same health complications that drive them to foreign shores for medical care and do not care enough to equip and upgrade our medical facilities to what is obtainable in their foreign hospitals and bring succour home to them, that is a shame.
Nigerians must take a serious view of these actions of abandonment and take proper actions in this regard. I advocate the need for a new elite recruitment that will run the affairs of this nation, just as it had happened in Senegal and hopefully Nigeria may begin to heal.
$20,000 annual medical allowance sends disheartening signal —Major Salawu
According to a retired Major, Rasaki Salawu (rtd) who is the pioneer Director of Operations, Federal Road Safety Commission, “This decision raises several critical concerns about the current state and future of our healthcare system. First, the allowance for foreign medical treatment sends a disheartening signal.
It suggests that even those in positions of authority lack confidence in the quality of care provided by our local hospitals.
This is particularly troubling given the ongoing challenges faced by the healthcare sector, including inadequate facilities, insufficient medical supplies, and a shortage of trained personnel. When our leaders opt for foreign treatment, it undermines public trust in the healthcare system and can perpetuate a cycle of neglect and underfunding for local facilities.
“Moreover, this decision highlights a stark disparity in healthcare access. While a select few benefit from substantial allowances for foreign care, the majority of Nigerians struggle with basic healthcare needs. Many citizens cannot afford even the most basic medical treatments, let alone travel abroad for specialized care. This inequity raises important questions about the priorities of our government.
Shouldn’t the focus be on ensuring that all Nigerians have access to quality healthcare rather than creating a system that favors the affluent? Furthermore, investing in foreign medical treatment allowances diverts resources away from what truly matters: improving our healthcare infrastructure. The government should prioritize significant investments in local hospitals, enhancing both the quality of care and the range of services offered.
This includes upgrading medical equipment, ensuring a steady supply of essential medications, and expanding training programs for healthcare professionals. By doing so, we can build a healthcare system that not only meets the needs of the current population but is also sustainable for future generations.
In addition, we must consider the long-term implications of this approach. Relying on foreign medical treatments can lead to a brain drain, where our best medical professionals seek opportunities abroad rather than contributing to the improvement of our local healthcare system. We need to create an environment that encourages skilled professionals to stay and work in Nigeria, fostering an ecosystem of excellence in healthcare.
While retirement benefits for our generals are important, they should not come at the expense of the broader population’s health. It is imperative that we advocate for policies that enhance local healthcare services, ensuring that all Nigerians have access to the quality care they deserve.
It undermines the morale of healthcare workers —Abdul-Aziz
Spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF),Suleiman Abdul-Aziz,said: “President Tinubu’s recent approval of retirement benefits for Nigerian generals, including a $20,000 annual allowance for foreign medical treatment, has raised concerns about the state of healthcare in Nigeria.
While acknowledging the service rendered by these officers, the significant allocation for overseas medical care raises serious concerns about the government’s priorities and the overall health of the nation’s healthcare system. This decision, while seemingly benefiting a select few, ultimately reflects a deeper malaise within the Nigerian healthcare infrastructure and underscores the urgent need for reform. The most pressing concern is the implicit lack of confidence in Nigeria’s own healthcare system.
The allowance suggests that the government itself believes that its hospitals and medical professionals cannot adequately meet the needs of even its highest-ranking military personnel. This perception, whether accurate or not, is damaging.
It perpetuates a cycle where the elite seek treatment abroad, draining valuable foreign exchange and reinforcing the notion that domestic healthcare is substandard. This undermines the morale of healthcare workers and discourages investment in domestic medical infrastructure and training. If the government’s own top officials do not trust the system, why should ordinary citizens? Furthermore, the allocation of such substantial funds for a select group raises questions of equity and fairness.
The $20,000 annual allowance, while potentially justified within a broader context of generous retirement packages, represents a stark contrast to the realities faced by the vast majority of Nigerians. Many lack access to basic healthcare, struggling with inadequate facilities, poorly trained personnel, and a shortage of essential medications.
This disparity highlights a fundamental flaw in the government’s prioritization of resources. Investing such a considerable sum in foreign medical treatment for a limited number of individuals could be far more impactful if channeled into improving the nation’s healthcare system for the benefit of all its citizens. Investing in healthcare is not merely a humanitarian concern; it is a crucial component of national development.
A strong healthcare system is essential for a productive workforce, a stable society, and overall economic growth. A healthy population is a productive population, contributing to economic progress and national security.
Sheer absurdity – Ambakederimo, S-South opinion leader
Convener of the South-South Reawakening Group, Elder Joseph Ambakederimo, asserted: “Successive governments have continued to treat the health sectors with levity. This sort of foreign medical approval has become rampant over time.
Now the question to ask is have we even done the calculation to have an idea of what the financial implications of expenditure of government officials on foreign medicals has been on the overall economy? The trajectory is a misnomer in all its ramifications, we do not comprehend building health facilities for certain persons while others always seek medical attention from topmost hospitals in foreign countries.
They build and name a ramshackle facility that cannot pass for a piggery an international hospital but they and their families do not patronize such facilities. We keep throwing money away and become so wasteful, what if these monies are put to upgrade our health facilities and provide top-notch services for the good of the people? This is the President who says he wants to bring down the cost of drugs and medicare, how he intends to achieve it was not mentioned, and now this largesse to a section of people. So what exactly are we to achieve.”
Overseas medical trips deplete foreign reserve – Sarah-Igbe, PANDEF leader
A chieftain of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, Chief Anabs Sarah-Igbe, fumed in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State: “It clearly shows the deliberate neglect of our healthcare system by our leaders. While I am not against proper care of our retired servicemen after a meritorious service to the nation, we have to invest in our health sector to end foreign medical tourism.
The amount may be small if you consider the flight ticket, hotel accommodation, and feeding, but we should begin to deliberately invest in standard medical equipment to boost hospitals in the country. How many Nigerians can afford the money to travel abroad for treatment these days? We have some of the best doctors in this country who can handle any health condition if given the right equipment.”
Nigeria suffering from sovereign inferiority complex –Wills, activist
Co-Convener of Embassara Foundation, an Ijaw governance think-tank, Iniruo Wills, said: “If it is true, it makes Nigeria look like it is suffering from a combination of national cognitive deficiency and sovereign inferiority complex. Only a country lacking in the simplest sense of national interest does that. I choose to think the report is not true.”
Gloomy affair – Morris, environmentalist
The Deputy Director of Environmental Defenders Network, EDEN, in Bayelsa State, Alagoa Morris, queried: “Why provide jobs (medical tourism) for other nations? This has a huge backlash on the flight of our medical professionals and the sorry state of our health facilities. It does not promote sustainable development and the government should discontinue it.
Just as some of us advocated resuscitation of the refineries to encourage local production and bring down prices of petroleum products, this calls for priority to be given to our health sector for effective service delivery. Besides commensurate allowances and salary for health workers, modern equipment should be procured for hospitals at national and sub-national levels, including specialist hospitals. While I would want to see/hear that our military and other security agency personnel are well provided for, frivolity should not be part of it.
Things should be done in ways that the actions of Mr. President are not misconstrued. Yes, some might think that it is a way to buy the minds of our military at the expense of public good. The President should think about the masses.
The masses are so impoverished to the level that the privileged few in government abuse them by trying to provide emergency health services in the open, and sharing Christmas largesse in the form of rice. This is a sad commentary. The three arms of government: legislative, executive, and judiciary should stay in their respective lanes and serve Nigerians”.
No to medical tourism – Prof Brown, UNIUYO
Aniekan Brown, a professor of Criminology at the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, said, “I know they may want to do that to encourage those security chiefs to have a sense of social security upon their years of active service. But my problem is sustainability. Limiting it to retired generals may also call to question the intention of Mr. President.
What happened to those who have led universities or other establishments? I am not comfortable with it in the context of sustainability. I wish the Nigerian government would improve the quality of its hospitals, even if it is one per geo-political zone, then we do not need to spend $20 million for retired generals. We should invest more in raising quality hospitals rather than encouraging medical tourism.”
We won’t send anyone abroad if … Dr Amaka, medical practitioner
A medical practitioner in Jesse, Delta State, Dr Eunice Amaka, said: “This allowance shows a lack of trust in our healthcare system by the government itself. It demoralizes healthcare workers trying to improve standards despite poor funding and infrastructure. If the government channeled this money into training, research, and better facilities, we would not need to send anyone abroad.”
Fix our medical facilities – Pastor D Lewis
“This act shows that the government is not interested in fixing our ailing public infrastructures, particularly public health facilities. It is appalling that a government that is battling with the Japa syndrome, particularly among health workers, is patronizing foreign medical care for top military brass.
This is unpatriotic and hypocritical, and interestingly, it is the same Nigerian medical personnel who fled the country for greener pastures that will still treat them there. We have the manpower, among the best in the world, so why not fix the facilities up to standard and provide a conducive environment for them here?”
A dangerous precedent —Kuejubola, public commentator
A public commentator, Mr. Emmanuel Kuejubola described the development as a dangerous precedent by the President. “I doubt if this has the legislative backing of the National Assembly. I think Mr. President got this wrong because automatically, we are telling the world that hospitals in Nigeria have no hope of improvement and our retired generals should be treated abroad.
I will not dispute that the retired generals have served the country meritoriously but if the money is invested in improving healthcare delivery, we will go places. Mr. President got this wrong, this money ought to have been channeled into making our hospitals as good, if not better than the ones they will be going abroad for treatment. More so, our naira cannot compete with the dollar, so we are trading our economy for the benefit of other countries.”
Discriminating decision – Okpako, Delta motorcyclist
A motorcycle rider at Oghara in Delta State, Abel Okpako, who expressed disappointment, said: “This decision is unfair. Most Nigerians cannot afford basic drugs let alone travel abroad for treatment. If our leaders keep spending money abroad, who will fix our hospitals? It feels like they have abandoned us to our fate.”
Use the money to build hospitals —Egbedi, tricycle operator
A Sapele-based tricycle operator in Delta State, Joseph Egbedi, stated: “I understand they served the country and deserve care but why foreign treatment? They should use the money to build hospitals here. Even retired generals will prefer good local hospitals over traveling abroad.”
Invest in local hospitals – Emike, a mechanic
Tosan Emike, a mechanic at Koko in Delta State, said: “It is good to take care of our retired generals but it should not be at the expense of the rest of us.
If they give them foreign treatment allowances, the government should also invest in local hospitals so the ordinary people can benefit. Both can happen at the same time.”
Nothing wrong – Dr Osawaru
However, a medical practitioner in Edo State, Dr Okunzuwa Osawaru, said the peculiar nature of the military justifies the provision but should not stop the government from its activities. “The government could do both simultaneously considering the huge strain on the military, physically and mentally, as the nation battles insurrection on many fronts.
Whatever we can afford to bolster the military, we should not spare. Our health sector requires significant investment, particularly in staffing in the rural areas that lack adequate access to healthcare. It is essential to prioritize manpower investment in these regions, regardless of the government’s focus on military funding.”
It’s meant to keep the boys happy —Ajayi
A Public Analyst and former Commissioner for Budget and Planning in Ekiti Ekiti State, Mr Debo Ajayi, said; “Granting this kind of package to generals may sound like a good reward for their service to the country and an incentive to those who are contemplating the career path. The gesture could be a good one but the appropriateness of the package is a different matter.
I don’t even know why it’s called an annual allowance, are we contemplating that these generals will always need to go abroad every year?Should this not be really to fund the insurance programme that these generals belong to and not only them but other top ranking people who are in the country rather than giving it as allowance.
In other words, this insurance covers a situation where somebody has to be flown abroad rather than give people money; it smells more like money for the boys to keep them happy because there are far cheaper ways to achieve that objective.
Allowance sounds like money given to them whether or not they go for medical treatment overseas. When you are setting benefits and packages at one level of the hierarchy, you need to consider how it is equitable compared to those below the rank and people above it. If you are talking about Army Generals, what about other security agencies? When you go from there, you start considering other people in public service.
In order to proportionate, you have to look at all these factors. It comes down to the issue of funding good medical facilities in the country, to minimize having to send people abroad. The benefit could be when you go abroad, $20,000 would be made available to you but that’s if you have to go abroad for medical treatment. If you don’t, the benefit is there only when you need it but this one sounds like you will get it whether you need it or not.
So, something doesn’t smell right and when the message says approved, it suggests that somebody proposed it and it’s approved by the president. Who proposed it and what level of review and diligence did it go through to even come with such a proposal? Did it have a legislative review? Are there the necessary checks and balances? As we know in Nigeria, even my opinion at the end of the day might not change anything because the president has approved; who will undo it without facing the wrath of the beneficiaries?”
Govt is promoting medical tourism ——Wasiu
Comrade Ashaye Wasiu, Chairman, United Action for Democracy, Ogun State said; “Rather than approving foreign medical trips for retired army generals, governments at all levels in the country should invest more in the nation’s health care system, through provisions of necessary equipment and facilities in all our hospitals.
Medical personnel should be well paid to discourage the present brain drain in our health sector. By this singular act of the President, he is encouraging medical tourism among Nigerians. We should condemn this outrageous and obnoxious pay package for military generals.
However, we should demand adequate funding of healthcare including decent pay for healthcare professionals among the old, young, women and less privileges. It’s even ridiculous that at a period of surge in relocation abroad by doctors and other healthcare professionals, the government itself is promoting medical tourism”.
Govt must fund our hospitals——Rotimi
The Head of Human Rights Unit of Justice, Development and People Movement (JDPM), Abeokuta, Mr. Niyi Rotimi, said; “Someone who risks his or her life for the safety of his country, deserves better treatment in all ramifications after retirement. However, governments at the three levels in the country should adequately fund and equip our hospitals across the country and President Tinubu should also extend the gesture to other retired military personnel as well.
President should overhaul entire health sector ——Olaposi
Comrade Oginnni Olaposi Sunday, National Secretary, New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) said, “the federal government should declare a state of emergency in the nation’s health sector to recover the sector from comatose. Both the President and State governors should invest more on Nigerian medical facilities and training of more doctors and nurses. The foreign medical allowances for retired generals that have served Nigeria meritoriously is not a bad idea. However, the fact that Nigerian medical care is below international standard is the reason most notable Nigerians go abroad for medical treatments.
The total overhauling of the nation’s health sector should be the priority of the Presidency. The declaration of state of emergency in our Federal Ministry of Health is necessary for immediate recovery of the Nigerian Health sector from comatose.
