Tunji-Ojo spoke in Abuja Thursday at the decoration of newly
appointed deputy comptroller-generals, deputy controller-generals and deputy
commandant-generals of the paramilitary agencies under the ministry.

The agencies are the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS),
Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps
(NSCDC), and the Federal Fire Service (FFS).

The minister said the promotions were not routine but
presidential appointments anchored on merit and transparency.

“Your appointment came as a result of presidential approval.
It is not just a promotion but an appointment,” NAN quoted Tunji-Ojo as saying.

“None of you is here on courtesy, whether you deserve it or
not. If you are good enough to be DCG, then you are good enough to be CG.”

The minister said the promotion exams were conducted
independently and graded by the National Army Resource Centre before being
ratified by the civil defence, correctional, fire, and immigration services
board (CDCFIB).

He said federal character was applied to ensure
inclusiveness, noting that seniority and competence were the sole criteria for
selection.

He praised Tinubu for reforms that have restored dignity to
the services, noting that irregular promotions had deprived many officers of
deserved elevation.

“Many officers retired without attaining positions they
merited, not because they lacked competence but because promotions were
irregular,” he said.

“Today, this administration has promoted over 52,000
officers in just two years.”

He said vacancies for senior positions had in the past
remained open for up to a year, stating that the Tinubu administration had
consistently filled them.

According to him, more than 80 percent of those decorated as
DCGs were promoted to assistant comptroller-generals (ACGs) under the current
government.

The minister listed welfare measures, including improved
salaries, peculiar allowances, elimination of stagnation, and life pensions for
retired DCGs and CGs.

“This government has shown more support than any other in
the history of the country,” he said.

“It believes that to whom much is given, much is expected.”

‘SHOW LOYALTY TO
NIGERIA’

Tunji-Ojo urged the newly promoted officers to show loyalty,
discipline and innovation in their duties.

He tasked the NIS to strengthening border governance, urged
the NCoS to transform prisons into correctional centres, charged the FFS to
position itself as first responders, and asked the NSCDC to safeguard critical
national assets.

“The time to rise to your responsibility is not tomorrow. It
began yesterday,” he said.

“Let us be catalysts of change and show that the government
did not make a mistake in entrusting us with these mandates.”

He recalled that during the last exams, a female officer
missed promotion by 0.25 marks, stressing that the rigour underscored the
fairness of the process.

The minister said he was pleased that the female officer was
among those decorated this time.

“The higher you go, the more disciplined you need to be,”
Tunji-Ojo told the officers.

“You are now role models. Let your actions speak louder than
words. Leave legacies for those coming behind you.”

The minister promised that the ministry would continue to innovate
and adopt global best practices.

He cited ongoing reforms, including the passport revolution,
centralised processing in immigration, improved facilities at the Fire Academy,
upgraded health standards at the Kuje correctional centre, and NSCDC’s role in
critical asset protection.

“Show loyalty to Nigeria above anything else. Let the love
of this country extinguish any flame of disloyalty. Be mentors, be role models,
be catalysts of change,” he said.

The newly appointed senior officers pledged to discharge
their duties with integrity and diligence.