First Ladies Should Also Get Severance Benefits - Aisha Buhari

Aisha Buhari

First lady Aisha Buhari has advocated for severance payouts and perks for president's wives like their spouses in the days leading up to the end of her husband's administration.

"I married my husband as the wife of a former president. I am going in a few days as a wife of a former president a second time," Mrs Buhari narrated. "They should consider us as former first ladies. They should incorporate the first ladies, give us some privileges that we deserve as first ladies, not just the former presidents."

The first lady made this statement at the book launch for Vickie Anwuli Irabor, president of the Defence and Police Officers' Wives Association (DEPOWA), on Friday in Abuja.

Even while the Nigerian Constitution recognizes the position of first lady, Mrs. Buhari's support for privileges for the spouses of previous presidents runs counter to calls from opponents who believe that the lavish severance packages and other benefits that come with public office burden the nation unnecessarily