The Federal Government has taken a major step to boost the morale of its security and emergency services personnel by approving the promotion of a massive batch of senior officers. The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) has given the green light for the elevation of 24,202 senior officers across the country's four key paramilitary agencies.
Minister Announces Major Personnel Boost
This significant development was announced on Monday, December 1, 2025, in Abuja. The Minister of Interior and Chairman of the board, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the disclosure while addressing journalists. He was represented at the briefing by the board's Secretary, Abdulmalik Jubril.
Jubril clarified that this promotion exercise marks the second batch of senior officer elevations in the year 2025. He outlined that the promotions were not arbitrary but followed a strict set of criteria designed to ensure fairness and reward merit.
"The promotion was based on various parameters which included national spread, good records, ratification, performance and vacancy availability," Jubril stated, explaining the board's decision-making process.
Breakdown of Promotions Across Agencies
The board provided a detailed distribution of the promoted officers, showing how the 24,202 slots were allocated among the four agencies under the ministry's supervision. The breakdown is as follows:
- Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS): 11,426 officers
- Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS): 4,336 officers
- Federal Fire Service (FFS): 2,581 officers
- Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC): 5,859 officers
This wide-scale promotion is aimed at addressing long-standing issues of career stagnation within these vital services.
A Boost for Morale and National Security
Minister Tunji-Ojo directly linked this initiative to the broader goals of the current administration. He explained that the move was strategically designed to enhance personnel morale and support more effective service delivery within the agencies, which are critical to internal security and public safety.
"In recent past, promotion had been stagnant, but this administration is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of personnel to tackle insecurity bedevilling the country," the Minister asserted.
He further positioned the promotion exercise as a key component of President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda. According to Tunji-Ojo, it forms a crucial part of a series of broader initiatives specifically aimed at improving the welfare of officers serving the nation.
"Among the several incentives brought to the ministry, this is particularly worthy of note," he added, highlighting the importance of the mass promotion.
The four agencies—the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Fire Service, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps—are frontline institutions. They play indispensable roles in maintaining internal security, enforcing national regulations, managing borders, and providing critical emergency response services across Nigeria.
By implementing these promotions, the Interior Ministry aims to achieve a dual objective: motivating officers through recognition of their contributions and strengthening the overall operational capacity of the paramilitary services. The ultimate goal is to ensure that personnel are not only rewarded for their dedication but are also better equipped and motivated to carry out their demanding duties in service to the nation.
