Aisha Buhari seeks pension, other privileges for ex-First Ladies
BY BENJAMIN OMOIKE
The out-going First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, has canvassed certain privileges, including payment of stipends, to wives of the country’s presidents after the expiration of their husbands’ tenure.
Mrs. Buhari made the demand at the launch of a book in Abuja authored by the president of the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs. Vickie Anwuli Irabor, titled ‘The Journey of a Military Wife’.
The outgoing First Lady listed such privileges to include the provision of vehicles, sponsored medical treatments, provision of some stipends, among others.
She pointed out that first ladies deserved these privileges just like their husbands in office and out of office, saying that “when the pressure comes, nobody wants to know whether you are out of the villa or not.”
Under Nigeria’s laws, ex-presidents are entitled to a pension package which includes the salary of the incumbent that will be drawn by them till death.
While justifying the reasons such privileges should be extended to first ladies, Mrs. Buhari said: “I married my husband as wife of a former president. I am going in a few days as wife of a former president a second time.
“They should consider us as former first ladies. They should incorporate the first ladies, give us some privileges that we deserve as first ladies,” she said, adding that whatever would be paid should not be for “just to the former presidents,” she said.
She commended Mrs Irabor for the book which she described as a factual, emotional book that will help officers’ wives navigate their lives.
Mrs Buhari said the book “underscores women as agents of stability for the nation as the nation battled insurgency and other security challenges.
“It’s a guide and reference for military wives and underlines the need for better support for military widows. The insights from the book will help readers appreciate the challenges of the military family.”
In his remarks, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State said Mrs Irabor’s book will promote national development.
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The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, commended the DEPOWA president for writing about the experiences of military families.
General Irabor said the book would aid the military to formulate a policy document on the welfare of military families.
The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, who spoke on behalf of service chiefs, commended the author for establishing a guide and reference for military wives.
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