President Bola Tinubu has approved a lifetime salary package for retired senior officers of Nigeria’s paramilitary agencies, in a major policy move aimed at improving post-service welfare and addressing long-standing concerns over retirement benefits.
The policy applies to retired Controller/Commandant/Comptroller Generals and Deputy Comptroller Generals across key agencies, including the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Fire Service, and the Nigerian Correctional Service.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Interior, the decision has been widely welcomed by retired officers, who described it as a long-awaited intervention after years of unsuccessful advocacy under previous administrations.
The development was highlighted during a courtesy visit by a delegation of retired senior officers to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja.
The delegation, led by former Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Chukwura Udeh, expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, noting that earlier administrations had failed to resolve the issue despite repeated engagements.
Udeh said the approval marks a significant improvement in the welfare recognition of senior personnel who dedicated decades of service to national security and public safety.
He added that the policy would help restore dignity to retired officers and reduce the financial challenges often faced after leaving active service.
In response, Minister Tunji-Ojo commended the retirees for their contributions to Nigeria’s internal security system, describing their service as vital to national stability.
He stated that the Tinubu administration remains committed to welfare reforms under its Renewed Hope agenda, stressing that effective nation-building goes beyond infrastructure development to include human capacity and wellbeing.
The minister also noted that ongoing reforms within paramilitary agencies have improved promotion systems, career progression, and morale among serving officers.
According to him, the ministry has cleared several promotion backlogs and introduced more regular promotion exercises to strengthen merit-based advancement.
He added that these reforms are aimed at restoring professionalism and ensuring officers can better plan their careers and retirement futures.
Tunji-Ojo further emphasized that improved welfare is expected to boost dedication and performance among personnel still in service, noting that government investment in officers should be matched by commitment and service delivery.
