The Federal Government has reassured personnel of the paramilitary agencies of the commitment of the current administration to undertaking an upward review of their salaries as well as implement other welfare pages for the officers.
Minister of Interior, Honourable Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja during the launch of a new uniform for officers and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
He disclosed that the ministry was already working with the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission to ensure the upward review of salaries of paramilitary officers.
Olubunmi-Ojo also assured paramilitary personnel of government’s readiness to fulfil its commitment towards facilitating complimentary compensations for their sacrifices as security officers.
“We are working on your peculiar allowance, and you can be assured of getting your entitlement soon. We are also working on the review of your salary. As a board, we are working with the salaries and wages commission to ensure the upward review of the salaries of our paramilitary officers,” he said.
While applauding the Commandant-General of NSCDC, Dr Abubakar Audi, for the initiative, the minister said the new uniform would give NSCDC officers “a sense of pride amongst their contemporaries within the security circle.”
He noted that reforms were underway to enhance the welfare packages of paramilitary personnel.
The minister disclosed that the government had constituted a committee to map out un-influenced promotion of personnel as well as draw out a pension board that could take care of officers after their retirement from service.
“As a government, we are putting in all that we can to ensure that we provide and support our agencies with the right materials, and of course the right knowledge that is needed to deliver.
“We will continue to support you. We will continue to work on the welfare and training of our officers because it is paramount. And, of course, we will continue to invest in you because we know that the dividend of our investment is enhanced security”, he said.
While assuring paramilitary personnel of the President’s regard for their welfare, the minister once again acknowledged their sacrifices to defend the nation against deviants.
“Be rest assured of my support. Be rest assured of the support of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Be rest assured that your sacrifices are not in vain. We appreciate your sleepless nights because your lack of sleep is the enabler of our sleep”, Tunji-Ojo said.
Speaking on rolling out promotion and the government’s quest to abolish career stagnation amongst other issues, the minister said that works were in top gear to see officers got promoted without influence or circumventing the process.
“We are working on the promotion exercise of personnel of all our paramilitary agencies, and in a couple of weeks, it will be out. We are doing this to bring the era of career stagnation to an end. People should enter the service with the anticipation that one day he/she can become the Comptroller General or Commandant General, as the case may be. People should be able to earn their promotion and when due without knowing anybody.
“We are working on the establishment of a paramilitary pension board so that in service and in retirement our men can know that there is assurance of a good life”, he said.
While presenting the new set of camouflaged uniforms to the minister, the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) expressed excitement over the assurance of the minister to boost the morale of officers through befitting remuneration and welfare packages.
