Abuja: The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has announced that President Bola Tinubu’s reforms have ended decades of career stagnation in Nigeria’s paramilitary services, emphasizing merit, welfare, and rapid promotions.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the announcement was made in Abuja during the decoration ceremony for newly appointed senior officers of the four paramilitary agencies under the Ministry of Interior. These agencies include the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Federal Fire Service (FFS). The elevated ranks comprise Deputy Comptroller Generals, Deputy Controller Generals, and Deputy Commandant Generals.
Minister Tunji-Ojo clarified that the new elevations were not merely promotions but presidential appointments grounded in merit, competence, and transparent processes. He stressed that the appointments, approved by the president, were not based on courtesy but on merit and competence.
He explained that the officers’ examinations were independently conducted and evaluated by the National Army Resource Centre, with results ratified by the board. Federal character was applied to ensure inclusiveness across all geopolitical zones, but seniority and merit remained the primary criteria for the appointments.
The minister praised the president for reforms that have restored dignity to the services, lamenting that prior stagnation had denied competent officers deserved career progression. He highlighted that many officers previously retired without attaining positions they merited due to irregular promotions. However, the current administration has promoted over 52,000 officers in two years.
Tunji-Ojo noted that vacancies for Deputy Comptroller Generals had often remained unfilled for extended periods, but the current administration has consistently filled these positions. Over 80% of those decorated as DCGs were promoted to ACGs under the current government.
He also mentioned welfare interventions that include increased salaries, peculiar allowances, eradication of career stagnation, and approval of life pensions for retired DCGs and CGs. The minister urged the newly appointed officers to give their best to the nation and emphasized the importance of loyalty, innovation, and commitment to excellence.
The minister charged the NIS to secure borders, the NCoS to transform prisons into correctional centres, the FFS to establish itself as first responders in emergencies, and the NSCDC to safeguard critical national assets. He urged the officers to rise to their responsibilities immediately and demonstrate that the government made the right choice in their appointments.
Tunji-Ojo also recalled that during the last set of examinations, a female senior officer narrowly missed promotion by just 0.25 marks, highlighting the rigour and fairness of the process. He expressed satisfaction that she was among those celebrated this time and urged the new DCGs to cooperate with their CGs, maintain discipline, and avoid lobbying.
The minister assured that the ministry would continue to innovate in line with global best practices and encouraged the DCGs to contribute fresh ideas. He emphasized the importance of listening, collaborating, and working together to build paramilitary services that could compete globally.
The newly appointed DCGs pledged to serve with dedication, diligence, and integrity. Dr. Ngozi Odikpo, speaking on behalf of the appointees, expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the distinguished appointments and commended his commitment to the nation’s safety and security. She also acknowledged the Minister of Interior for his exemplary leadership and guidance.
Odikpo extended appreciation to the CGs of the respective services for their outstanding mentorship and leadership, pledging to uphold the high standards of their offices with diligence and dedication.