By Mercy Gadia Adi
Senior officers of Nigeria’s Interior Ministry agencies will now receive lifetime salary benefits upon retirement, following a new welfare policy announced by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The policy, which applies to officers retiring from the ranks of Deputy Controller, Comptroller, or Commandant-General and above, was unveiled on Thursday at the 2025 Ministerial Retreat.
According to a statement signed by the National Public Relations Officer and Head of Corporate Services of the Federal Fire Service, DCF PO Abraham, the initiative represents a major milestone in officer welfare and underscores Tinubu’s commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“In recognition of the welfare of senior officers, the minister announced that any officer retiring from the rank of Deputy Controller/Comptroller/Commandant-General will now receive lifetime salary benefits, a policy graciously approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the statement read.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo expressed gratitude to the President for backing the ministry’s reforms, stressing that agencies under his supervision were already benefitting from Tinubu’s renewed focus on institutional capacity building.
“The minister expressed profound appreciation to President Tinubu for his unwavering support, affirming that all agencies under the Ministry of Interior are reaping the benefits of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Abraham noted in the statement.
Highlighting achievements within the ministry, Tunji-Ojo disclosed that the government had successfully cleared the long-standing backlog of promotions, with more than 50,000 officers promoted in the past two years.
“We have successfully cleared the long-standing backlog of promotions,” he stated, adding that officer progression in future would rely on a new performance- and capacity-based system rather than tenure alone.
The minister further announced that new training manuals had been developed and that the construction of a world-class Fire Academy was underway. The academy, he said, was designed to match the standards of global institutions such as the Arizona Fire Academy.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo also emphasized the importance of mental health support for officers, pledging the ministry’s commitment to ensuring a healthier and more productive workforce.
He urged the Federal Fire Service to seek private sector partnerships as part of its modernization agenda.
“Collaboration with the private sector is crucial for enhancing service delivery, infrastructure development, and modernising firefighting operations in Nigeria,” he said.
The minister concluded by reaffirming his administration’s commitment to building stronger, more efficient institutions across all Interior Ministry agencies.
With the new welfare policy, experts say morale among senior officers is expected to rise, while the government strengthens institutional loyalty and performance.