FG approves lifetime salary for senior interior officers

The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has announced a policy that will provide lifetime salary benefits to senior officers retiring from the rank of Deputy Controller, Comptroller, or Commandant-General and above.

The policy, a major boost to officer welfare, was approved by President Bola Tinubu.

The minister announced this on Thursday, while speaking at the 2025 Ministerial Retreat, where he detailed the ministry’s achievements and reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening institutional performance and capacity across all agencies.z

This is contained in a statement signed by  NPRO/Head, Corporate Services of the Federal Fire Service, DCF PO Abraham, on Thursday, following the retreat.

“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.

In it, he conveyed the minister’s appreciation for the President’s support.

“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 added.

“We have successfully cleared the long-standing backlog of promotions,” Tunji-Ojo stated, noting that over 50,000 officers have been promoted within the last two years alone.

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He emphasised that in the future, officer progression will be determined by a new system based on capacity and performance.

In line with the ministry’s focus on institutional enhancement, Tunji-Ojo revealed that new training manuals have been developed and that the construction of a world-class Fire Academy is now underway.

The academy is being built to compete with leading international institutions, such as the Arizona Fire Academy.

The minister also underscored the importance of mental health in the workplace, assuring officers of the ministry’s full support in this critical area.

He also charged the Federal Fire Service to engage in private sector partnerships, highlighting that such collaboration is crucial for enhancing service delivery, infrastructure development, and the modernisation of firefighting operations in Nigeria.