By Abdul Lauya
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved lifetime salary benefits for retiring senior officers in the paramilitary agencies under the Ministry of Interior.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo, speaking at the 2025 Ministerial Retreat in Abuja, said the new welfare policy will cover officers retiring from the rank of Deputy Controller, Comptroller, or Commandant-General in the Federal Fire Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigerian Correctional Service.
The Minister explained that the move is part of a broader reform agenda to reward decades of service and boost morale among officers serving in critical national security and service institutions.
He revealed that under President Tinubu’s administration, the Ministry of Interior has successfully cleared a long-standing backlog of promotions, with over 50,000 officers elevated within the last two years.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo also disclosed that the Ministry has developed standard training manuals and placed emphasis on capacity building to enhance professionalism and service delivery across its agencies.
He noted that construction is underway for a world-class Fire Academy in Nigeria, designed to rival leading international institutions such as the Arizona Fire Academy in the United States.
According to the Minister, promotions within the paramilitary agencies will now be strictly based on performance and capacity, as part of efforts to strengthen institutional performance and accountability.
He stressed the importance of mental health support for officers, assuring that the Ministry is committed to creating a workplace environment that prioritizes psychological well-being.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo further charged the Federal Fire Service to embrace private sector collaboration, stating that partnerships with stakeholders are crucial to modernizing firefighting operations and expanding infrastructure.
The Minister expressed deep appreciation to President Tinubu for his unwavering support, insisting that the Renewed Hope Agenda is already transforming the paramilitary agencies under the Ministry into more efficient and professional institutions.
Analysts say the new lifetime salary policy, while a major morale booster for top officers, raises concerns about sustainability given Nigeria’s fiscal pressures and competing demands for public funds.
Critics argue that tying benefits exclusively to senior officers could widen the welfare gap within the services, leaving lower and mid-level personnel feeling marginalized despite their frontline roles.
Supporters, however, counter that the policy is long overdue and could encourage discipline, loyalty, and continuity at the highest levels of the paramilitary system where institutional memory is crucial.
Observers note that the success of the policy will depend on transparency in implementation and whether it is matched with broader reforms that address rank-and-file welfare, training, and operational capacity.
Commentators also point out that the Fire Academy project and the push for private sector collaboration will be key tests of the Ministry’s resolve to modernize paramilitary services and align them with global best practices.
The development underscores Tinubu’s determination to project a strong welfare-driven leadership image, but experts caution that balancing symbolism with substance remains the real challenge for his administration.
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