ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved lifetime salaries for retired Comptrollers-General and Deputy Comptrollers-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), in a move the Federal Government says is aimed at improving the welfare of senior immigration officers after retirement.

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the development on Friday, October 16, during the closing ceremony of the Specialised Border Control and Immigration Management System Training held at the Immigration Service Headquarters in Abuja.

Tunji-Ojo said the approval was part of a broader package of reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration to address longstanding challenges affecting personnel welfare, career progression and institutional development across agencies under the Ministry of Interior.

According to the minister, the Federal Government has cleared accumulated promotion backlogs, enabling more than 50,000 personnel to advance to new ranks and positions within approximately three years.

He also disclosed that the administration had expanded recruitment capacity, citing an exercise involving no fewer than 40,000 new personnel.

The minister attributed the improvements to the administration's commitment to strengthening the country's security and immigration institutions through better remuneration, enhanced allowances and improved career opportunities.

Speaking about the welfare of retired senior immigration officers, Tunji-Ojo revealed that former Comptrollers-General previously received pensions of approximately ₦130,000, which he described as inadequate considering their years of service and responsibilities.

He said Tinubu subsequently approved lifetime salary arrangements for retired Comptrollers-General and Deputy Comptrollers-General to improve their financial security after leaving active service.

The minister, however, did not provide details on the precise amount beneficiaries would receive, when payments would commence or the overall financial implications of the arrangement.

Tunji-Ojo also commended the President for approving salary adjustments, hazard allowances and other special benefits for personnel serving under the ministry.

He maintained that the reforms were intended to improve morale, strengthen institutional effectiveness and encourage public servants to deliver better services to Nigerians.

The minister called on immigration officers and other personnel to reciprocate the government's support through professionalism, discipline and commitment to their responsibilities.

“All he asks from us in the service is to do our jobs well and make Nigerians happy. Everything we have asked of him, he has done. This is the least we can do,” Tunji-Ojo said.

Beyond personnel welfare, the minister emphasised the importance of developing sustainable institutions capable of functioning effectively regardless of changes in political leadership.

He described Tinubu's approach to governance as focused on long-term institutional development rather than immediate political achievements.

According to Tunji-Ojo, the administration's Renewed Hope Agenda prioritises reforms intended to strengthen public institutions and establish systems that will remain effective beyond the tenure of the current government.

The minister argued that building durable institutions requires investment in personnel, technology, infrastructure and administrative capacity.

The announcement came during a specialised training programme aimed at improving Nigeria's border security and immigration management through the deployment of modern technology.

The programme forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen border surveillance, improve the management of migration records and enhance the operational capacity of immigration officers.

The Federal Government has been pursuing reforms intended to modernise immigration operations, improve data management and strengthen the coordination of border security activities.

While the lifetime salary approval represents a significant development for retired senior immigration officials, further clarification is expected on its implementation, eligibility requirements and funding arrangements.

The policy also draws attention to wider questions surrounding retirement benefits and welfare provisions for public servants across Nigeria's security and administrative institutions.

For the Nigeria Immigration Service, the latest announcement adds to a series of government initiatives aimed at improving staff welfare and modernising institutional operations.

The effectiveness of the reforms will ultimately depend on their implementation, transparency and measurable improvements in the quality of services delivered to Nigerians.

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