Federal Government introduces lifetime pay for ex-paramilitary chiefs as Bola Ahmed Tinubu prioritises welfare reforms.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a lifetime salary structure for retired top-ranking officials of paramilitary organisations, a move that has been widely commended by former service chiefs.

The retirees, drawn from four paramilitary agencies, expressed their appreciation during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Wednesday in Abuja.
The delegation included former senior officers from the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Fire Service (FFS), and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
According to reports by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the presidential approval provides lifetime salaries for retired Controller Generals, Commandant Generals, Comptroller Generals, as well as their deputies.
Speaking on behalf of the group, former Comptroller-General of the NIS, Chukwura Udeh, said the visit was to formally convey their gratitude to the President through the Minister.
He noted that the demand for such a salary structure had lingered unresolved across several previous administrations.
“On our behalf, kindly extend our appreciation to Mr President because this issue that was approved like it is nothing, made us see hell. We were abandoned halfway by other ministers but we will always remember that you have helped humanity,” he said.
In his response, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo commended the retirees for their years of dedicated service, stressing that the President places high priority on the welfare of uniformed personnel.
He said the administration’s “renewed hope” agenda goes beyond infrastructure to include the well-being of citizens, particularly those who have served the country.
“Mr President believes in renewed hope as a way of life. Nation-building is not just about infrastructure but about people. Your welfare is not a slogan but a commitment. It is the least you deserve after sacrificing the better part of your lives. We must not allow you to regret your years of service in old age,” he said.
The Minister further emphasised that no officer should face hardship after retirement, underscoring the importance of financial security for former personnel.
He also highlighted improvements within the paramilitary services, noting that conditions have significantly improved.
“The service is not what it used to be. It has never been this good for paramilitary agencies. Our officers now wear their uniforms with pride and are no longer belittled,” he added.
Additionally, he revealed that the ministry has cleared outstanding promotion arrears and recently conducted new promotion examinations.
“Officers can now attain appropriate ranks at the right time and have a clearer career progression, which is highly motivating. If you committed your best years to serving the nation, the nation must also give you its best,” he said.
Among those present at the meeting were former NSCDC Commandant General Abdullahi Gana and a former Controller General of the Federal Fire Service.