By Omeiza Ajayi
ABUJA: The Federal Government on Thursday declared that President Bola Tinubu has promoted more than 52,000 personnel across four paramilitary services in the Ministry of Interior within just two years in office, breaking decades of career stagnation that had deprived officers of deserved advancement.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this at the Headquarters of the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS in Abuja during the decoration of newly promoted senior officers across the four paramilitary agencies – the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS, Nigeria Correctional Service NCoS, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC, and Federal Fire Service FFS.
The officers, who are now Deputy Comptrollers General, Deputy Controllers General or Deputy Commandants General depending on the service arm they belong, were elevated through what the minister described as a transparent and merit-driven process.
“Many officers retired without attaining positions they merited, not because they lacked competence but because promotions were irregular. Today, this administration has promoted over 52,000 officers in just two years,” he said.
According to Tunji-Ojo, the reforms initiated by President Tinubu are not only promoting welfare but also anchoring the process on fairness, merit and inclusivity.
He noted that officers’ examinations were independently conducted and marked by the Nigeria Army Resource Centre before being ratified by the board.
“Your appointment came as a result of presidential approval. It is not just promotion but appointment. None of you is here on courtesy, whether you deserve it or not. If you are good enough to be DCG, then you are good enough to be CG,” he added.
He explained that federal character principle was applied to ensure inclusivity across geopolitical zones while merit and seniority remained the decisive factors.
The minister praised Tinubu for restoring dignity to the services by ensuring vacancies at the highest levels no longer remain unfilled for months.
According to him, more than 80 per cent of the newly decorated DCGs were previously promoted to Assistant Comptrollers General ACGs under the current administration.
In addition to promotions, Tunji-Ojo listed other welfare interventions such as increased salaries, peculiar allowances, eradication of stagnation and life pensions for retired DCGs and CGs.
“This government has shown more support than any other in the history of the country. It believes that to whom much is given, much is expected,” he stressed.
Charging the agencies on performance, the minister directed the NIS to secure borders, NCoS to transform prisons into correctional centres, FFS to establish itself as first responders, and NSCDC to safeguard critical national assets.
“The time to rise to your responsibility is not tomorrow. It began yesterday. Let us be catalysts of change and show that government did not make a mistake in entrusting us with these mandates,” he urged.
Representing the newly decorated officers, Dr Ngozi Odikpo expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for his “visionary commitment” to the safety and security of the country, pledging loyalty, diligence and integrity in service.
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