By Deborah Nnamdi
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has unveiled a new policy that grants lifetime salary benefits to senior officers retiring from the ranks of Deputy Controller, Comptroller, or Commandant-General and above.
Approved by President Bola Tinubu, the policy marks a significant step forward in improving officer welfare across the Ministry’s agencies.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo announced on Thursday during the 2025 Ministerial Retreat, where he reviewed the ministry’s achievements and reaffirmed its commitment to institutional reform and performance enhancement.
The announcement was detailed in a statement issued by DCF PO Abraham, National PRO, and Head of Corporate Services of the Federal Fire Service.
According to the statement, the Minister expressed deep gratitude to President Tinubu for his continued support, stating that, “All agencies under the Ministry of Interior are benefitting from the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Highlighting recent accomplishments, the Minister revealed that the Ministry has cleared a long-standing backlog of promotions, with over 50,000 officers promoted in the past two years. He noted that going forward, promotions will be based on capacity and performance, as part of a broader shift towards merit-based advancement.
In support of institutional growth, the Minister also announced the development of new training manuals and the ongoing construction of a world-class Fire Academy, designed to rival top international institutions like the Arizona Fire Academy.
Addressing officer wellbeing, Dr. Tunji-Ojo emphasized the importance of mental health support in the workplace and assured personnel of the ministry’s full commitment to this area.
He further urged the Federal Fire Service to pursue strategic partnerships with the private sector, highlighting their role in improving service delivery, infrastructure, and the modernization of firefighting operations in Nigeria.
