Tinubu approves lifetime salaries for retired senior security officers

In a major policy shift aimed at boosting morale within Nigeria’s security architecture, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved lifetime salaries for senior officers retiring from the country’s security and paramilitary agencies.

The announcement was made on Thursday by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, during the 2025 Ministerial Retreat in Abuja.

According to the minister, the new welfare policy covers retirees from the rank of Deputy Controller, Comptroller, or Commandant-General and above, ensuring that they continue to receive their full salaries after retirement.

A statement issued by DCF PO Abraham, spokesperson of the Federal Fire Service, confirmed the announcement and conveyed Tunji-Ojo’s gratitude to the President.

“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,” the statement read.

Tunji-Ojo revealed that more than 50,000 officers had been promoted over the last two years after clearing a longstanding backlog of promotions.

“We have successfully cleared the long-standing backlog of promotions,” he said, adding that future career advancement would now depend on a system anchored on capacity and performance.

The minister also announced the development of new training manuals and the construction of a state-of-the-art Fire Academy, designed to match world-class institutions such as the Arizona Fire Academy.

Underscoring the importance of mental health in the workplace, Tunji-Ojo assured officers of the ministry’s continued support and urged the Federal Fire Service to form strategic partnerships with the private sector to modernize firefighting operations, upgrade infrastructure, and improve service delivery nationwide.