Retired heads of four paramilitary agencies have expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for approving a lifetime salary for retired personnel of the services. The officers, representing the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Customs Service, paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Wednesday in Abuja. They described the approval as a historic gesture that recognizes decades of service. One of the retired officers, former Comptroller-General of Immigration Martin Kure, said the decision has lifted a major burden from retired personnel who have long struggled with inconsistent pensions. The lifetime salary applies to former heads and other qualifying retirees of the agencies. The Interior Minister confirmed the approval during the meeting, stating that implementation would follow existing civil service pension guidelines. No specific figures or commencement date for the payment were disclosed. The move has sparked optimism among retired officers, who have for years advocated for better welfare packages.
President Tinubu's approval of lifetime salaries for retired paramilitary heads bypasses the usual pension bottlenecks that have plagued former officers for years. The inclusion of ex-leaders from NIS, NSCDC, FRSC, and Customs signals a targeted recognition of those who served at the top, with figures like Martin Kure now set to benefit directly.
This decision emerges amid growing pressure on the government to address pension delays across security agencies, a long-standing issue that has left many retirees in financial distress. By acting on lifetime payments without waiting for legislative pushes or bureaucratic reviews, the executive is setting a precedent that could influence pension reforms in other security and civil service sectors.
Ordinary retirees who do not hold former head status may find little immediate relief, as the policy does not appear to extend to mid-level officers. However, the symbolic weight of the move could strengthen broader demands for pension equity among lower-ranking ex-personnel.
The gesture fits a pattern of selective welfare interventions by the current administration, where high-visibility benefits are granted to influential groups, often ahead of systemic fixes.
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