President Tinubu: Approves Lifetime Pay for Ex-Immigration Chiefs

• President Bola Tinubu has approved lifetime salaries for retired Comptrollers-General and Deputy Comptrollers-General of Immigration.
• This decision was announced by Minister of Interior Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo at an event in Abuja.
• Previously, retired Comptrollers-General received an "unencouraging" pension of approximately N130,000.
• President Tinubu also ended promotion backlogs, benefiting no fewer than 50,000 personnel, and increased recruitment with 40,000 new hires.
• The Minister praised these actions as part of a visionary approach to build lasting institutions under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

President Bola Tinubu has sanctioned lifetime remuneration for retired Comptrollers-General (CGs) and Deputy Comptrollers-General (DCGs) of the Nigeria Immigration Service.

President Bola Tinubu has sanctioned lifetime remuneration for retired Comptrollers-General (CGs) and Deputy Comptrollers-General (DCGs) of the Nigeria Immigration Service. This significant policy shift was revealed by Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, during the closing ceremony of a Specialised Border Control and Immigration Management System Training. The event took place at the Immigration Headquarters in Abuja on a recent Friday, with the announcement reported by the News Agency of Nigeria.

This new provision marks a substantial increase in post-service entitlements for these senior immigration officials. Previously, retired Comptrollers-General received a pension of approximately N130,000, a sum that the Minister described as "not encouraging." The President's approval directly addresses this, ensuring a "salary for life" for both CGs and DCGs, fundamentally altering their financial security in retirement.

Beyond the enhanced benefits for retired immigration chiefs, President Tinubu's administration has also tackled several other long-standing issues within the public services under the Ministry of Interior. Dr. Tunji-Ojo highlighted the President's role in eliminating promotion backlogs, a move that has reportedly led to no fewer than 50,000 personnel advancing in rank and office over the past three years. The Minister emphasized that such a comprehensive resolution to promotion arrears was unprecedented.

Furthermore, the President has significantly boosted recruitment efforts, facilitating the intake of no fewer than 40,000 new personnel in a single recruitment drive. These initiatives are complemented by general salary increments, as well as the introduction of hazard and peculiar allowances for active service members. These measures collectively underscore a broader commitment to improving the welfare and operational capacity of Nigeria's security and public service agencies.

Dr. Tunji-Ojo lauded President Tinubu as a visionary leader, asserting that his policies are designed to yield enduring positive impacts rather than merely immediate gratification. The Minister articulated that the President's focus, particularly under the "Renewed Hope Agenda," is on constructing robust systems capable of withstanding the test of time, remaining effective long after his tenure concludes.

The Minister drew an analogy, explaining that prosperous nations "plant their seeds" for future abundance rather than consuming them immediately. He stated that President Tinubu is engaged in this "planting" process to ensure a prosperous future for Nigeria. Acknowledging that his time in office is finite, the President's priority, according to Tunji-Ojo, is to establish lasting institutions and legacies that will benefit future generations, demonstrating a profound commitment to the nation's long-term stability and growth.

Lawyers advising former or current Nigerian immigration officials, or those involved in public sector employment and pension law, should be aware of this significant policy change. The approval of lifetime salaries for retired Comptrollers-General and Deputy Comptrollers-General establishes a new precedent for post-service entitlements within the Nigerian public service, potentially impacting future benefit structures and legal claims.

Source: Original reporting via News Agency of Nigeria.