Let me tell you, my friend, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has just put his signature to a measure that would cause royalty to turn green. The good Interior Minister made the proclamation at what they call a "Ministerial Retreat" in Abuja, beaming with satisfaction.
What's this all about, you ask? Why, it's about guaranteeing that select public servants will never stop collecting their full salary until the Lord calls them home. But mark my words - this golden ticket ain't for ordinary civil servants.
No sir! This remarkable privilege is reserved for those fortunate souls who retire at the elevated positions of the uppermost tiers of authority in agencies under the Ministry of Interior.
The stated purpose – and I relay this without a wink – is to guarantee these eminent persons maintain their dignity. Imagine that! As if a high-ranking official with years of access to power would be left destitute.
This interesting measure comes alongside other reforms including clearing a pile of over 50,000 pending promotions and founding what they're calling a "world-class Fire Academy" to rival the one in Arizona. Progress marches on, or so they claim.
Throughout my observations of administrations concoct methods to compensate their ranks, but this lifetime salary arrangement stands apart. A body has to question: Why not extend such generosity to every government worker? Even more appropriately, to the common citizens whose money pays these salaries?
The contrast with other civil workers remains clear as crystal. Countless ex-policemen still wait years for retirement funds that amount to a pittance.As I conclude this account, I must return to our theme: the perpetual remuneration of Nigeria's high-ranking officials. This August 2025 decision speaks libraries about the priorities of those who govern. And that, my friend, is a truth worth pondering long after you've set aside this writing.
