Buhari’s Family to Receive Lifetime Benefits from Federal Government

The family of late former President Muhammadu Buhari will receive financial allowances and other lifetime benefits from the Nigerian government, in accordance with the nation’s laws on former leaders’ welfare.

Under the Remuneration of Former Presidents and Heads of State (and Other Ancillary Matters) Act, 1999 (CAP R6, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004), the federal government is mandated to provide support for past presidents and their families after their death.

According to the law, Buhari’s widow will be paid ₦350,000 monthly as personal upkeep. In addition to this, the government will pay ₦250,000 every three months to cover the children’s education and other family needs. Another ₦250,000 will also be paid quarterly as part of an annual allowance. These financial benefits will continue unless the widow remarries, in which case the law requires the government to stop the payments.

Beyond the cash payments, the law provides for several non-monetary benefits. The family will receive a fully furnished five-bedroom house in any part of Nigeria of their choosing. They are also entitled to three government-provided vehicles, which will be replaced every four years, along with drivers paid by the government.

For security, four officers drawn from the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) will be assigned to the family permanently. The government will also cover the cost of domestic and office staff, provide one government-funded telephone line, and pay for medical treatment both within Nigeria and abroad. The widow will be entitled to a government-sponsored vacation once every year.

These entitlements are not unique to Buhari’s family. The same provisions apply to all former Nigerian heads of state and their dependents under the current law.

Buhari, who led Nigeria as president from 2015 to 2023, died recently after a period of retirement from public life. His passing triggered the automatic activation of these state-supported benefits.

The Remuneration of Former Presidents and Heads of State (and Other Ancillary Matters) Act has often attracted public debate, especially concerning the cost of governance in Nigeria. However, the law remains in force, and unless amended by the National Assembly, it guarantees lifetime support for families of deceased presidents and heads of state.