Report labels Buhari’s claim on rental income for feeding misleading

A report has described as misleading, the recent statement by former President Muhammadu Buhari that he relies on rental income from one of his houses in Kaduna State to support his living expenses after leaving office.

Buhari, who served as Nigeria’s president between 2015 and 2023, said this during an All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus meeting in Katsina State.

“After eight years as a civilian president, I have only three houses; one in Daura and two in Kaduna. I have given one out for renting where I get money for feeding,” the former president stated.

However, a fact-check by PRNigeria revealed that the claim is misleading.

According to the platform, investigations show that Buhari is entitled to significant statutory benefits as a former president and retired military officer.

According to the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), former presidents are entitled to a severance pay of N10.54 million, a monthly upkeep allowance of N350,000, and other benefits.

Additionally, the federal government allocated N13.8 billion in the 2024 budget for the upkeep of former presidents, vice-presidents, and other retired top officials.

Buhari: I didn’t enrich myself as president, I feed from my Kaduna house rent

Buhari’s 2015 asset declaration further complicates his claim. The document reveals that he owns five homes, two mud houses, farms, an orchard, a ranch with 270 cattle, 25 sheep, five horses, and a variety of birds.

He also holds shares in three firms, owns two undeveloped plots of land, and purchased two cars from his savings.

While his 2023 asset declaration remains undisclosed, the 2015 records suggest that his rental income is likely supplementary to his other substantial sources of income.

PRNigeria’s findings also highlight that Buhari, as a retired army general, is entitled to a monthly pension exceeding N1 million, in addition to the life pension provided to former heads of state.

In 2016, Buhari claimed he did not receive his military pension, but this has not been independently verified.

The fact-check concludes that while Buhari may receive rental income from one of his properties, it is unlikely to be his primary source of livelihood.

His statutory entitlements and publicly known assets indicate that he has multiple streams of income, making his claim of relying solely on rental income misleading.

The Star