Tinubu Approves Lifetime Salary for Retiring Senior Officers – Interior Minister

At the same event, Tunji-Ojo also highlighted progress in addressing promotion backlogs over 50,000 officers were promoted in the last two years and announced institutional improvements such as updated training manuals and construction of a world-class Fire Academy.

In contrast, top political leaders such as governors, lawmakers, and ministers often secure generous severance packages, housing allowances, and in some states, lifetime pensions. Tinubu’s new policy attempts to extend similar privileges to high-ranking officers in the Interior Ministry, arguably creating parity between political office holders and senior uniformed service chiefs.

The policy also aligns with Nigeria’s broader shift in public sector governance, where welfare improvements complement anti-corruption and capacity-building efforts. Initiatives like open training, performance-based promotions, and mental health provisions underscore attempts to professionalize key agencies, especially amid rising national security challenges.

Nigeria’s decision to adopt lifetime salaries for its Interior senior officers places it among the more generous countries in terms of officer welfare. Supporters argue this is necessary to discourage corruption and ensure experienced leaders commit fully during service. However, critics note that in countries with stricter fiscal discipline, such policies are backed by robust contributory pension systems, unlike Nigeria’s still fragile structure.

• A 300 % pay raise for judicial officers signed into law in August 2024.
• A $20,000 annual medical allowance, bullet-proof SUVs, and domestic aides for retiring service chiefs and top generals.
• Salary hikes and payment of pension arrears and entitlements for military personnel.

These policies position retirement and welfare reforms as central to President Tinubu’s vision of a reformed and motivated public service.

• Supporters see it as deserved recognition for senior officers often operating in challenging security environments.
• Critics argue such privileges are excessive, particularly when compared to wages for frontline personnel or citizens facing economic hardship.
• Civic groups raise concerns about equity and long-term sustainability of the policy amid Nigeria’s strained public finances.

Online discussions across platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook reflect sharp divisions. Some citizens praised Tinubu for rewarding loyalty, while others questioned why ordinary civil servants continue to wait months for pension arrears while senior officials receive guaranteed lifetime pay.

A Lagos-based financial analyst, Dr. Ifeanyi Eze, argued that “unless the government establishes a contributory mechanism or creates a welfare trust fund for these benefits, Nigeria risks repeating the same pension crises that have crippled public trust for decades.” He recommended a hybrid model where government tops up officer contributions rather than carrying the full burden of lifetime salaries.

• Labour unions insist the same consideration should be extended to lower-ranking officers and civil servants, who form the backbone of the Interior Ministry’s workforce.
• Civil society organizations call for transparency, demanding published lists of beneficiaries and the cost implications for taxpayers.
• Retired officers welcomed the move, with some describing it as “long overdue recognition.” However, they emphasized the importance of ensuring prompt payments to avoid the historic problem of delayed entitlements.

Some governance experts argue that such reforms should be communicated as part of a holistic plan that also prioritizes grassroots welfare—such as ensuring pensioners at the local government level are paid promptly, expanding social welfare programs, and improving service delivery. Without these measures, the narrative may remain skewed towards elitism.

• May set precedent for other agencies to demand similar benefits.
• Could exacerbate strain on public sector budgets if implemented broadly.
• Requires transparency to ensure accountable implementation.