53,491 paramilitary personnel promoted in two years – Tunji-Ojo

…restates FG commitment to staff welfare
By Ukpono Ukpong
The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has revealed that no fewer than 53,491 personnel of the four services under his ministry have been promoted in the last two years.
Speaking at the 2025 1st quarter media parley in Abuja, Tunji-Ojo gave the breakdown of the promoted personnel to include 32,640 personnel in 2023 and 20,851 in 2024.
These agencies are; the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigerian Correctional Service, Federal Fire Service, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
In his presentation, the Minister said that the commencement and promotion of these personnel attests to President Bola Tinubu-led administration’s commitment to the welfare of workers.
Also, the minister announced that between 2023 and 2024, a total of 10,783 personnel have been recruited into the Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Fire Service, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The breakdown includes, the Nigeria Immigration Service – 5,283 personnel, Federal Fire Service – 2,500, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps – 3,000.
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Ensuring the recruitment of at least 35% female personnel in all recruitment processes beginning with the Federal Fire Service 2024 recruitment exercise.
He also revealed that President Tinubu had also approved the increament of inmates feeding allowance from N750 to N1,125 daily per inmate. This is as he tasked the Service to ensure inmates get value for the increment.
Speaking further, the Minister said that the President has also approved the recruitment of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers to cater to inmates’ health needs across custodial centres.
This he revealed was necessitated by the shortage of doctors and nurses as a result of retirements over time.
Furthermore, he announced that approval has also been secured for the National Youth Service Corps to start posting doctors and nurses to custodial centers for their NYSC.
In the year under review, Tunji-Ojo also noted that no external aggression was recorded however, there were jailbreaks in Suleja and Maiduguri and those were as a result of natural disaster occasioned by heavy downpour in Suleja leading to the collapse of the weak perimeter wall while that of Maiduguri was as a result of flood.
Moreso, the Minister hinted at the ongoing plans to collaborate with stakeholders in the Criminal Justice System to tackle the long-standing issue of overcrowding, even as he acknowledged that the bulk does not stop with NCoS.