FG Sets New Performance Targets For Paramilitary Chiefs

The Federal Government has set new key performance indicators for paramilitary agencies to enhance service delivery and deepen reforms.

The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the directive during the closing ceremony of the Ministry’s Sectoral Performance Review Retreat held at Zuma Rock Resorts, Suleja, Niger State.

At the retreat, heads of the five agencies under the Interior ministry signed their 2025 performance contracts, pledging to improve their performance and ensure Nigerians feel the direct benefits of government policies.

They include the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi; Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Nwankwoche, Controller General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), Adeyemi Olumode; and Director General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Abisoye Coker-Odusote.

The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, who is currently on President Tinubu’s delegation to Brazil, is expected to sign on her return.

The retreat, themed “From Plans to Results: Strengthening Institutional Performance in the Ministry of Interior,” focused on measuring the progress of reforms, addressing challenges, and setting new benchmarks for service delivery.

Speaking before the signing of the 2025 performance contracts, Dr. Tunji-Ojo laid out clear reform expectations for each of the agencies under his ministry.

He stressed that the contracts were not mere paperwork, but binding commitments to transform service delivery in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He addressed the leadership of the paramilitary services under the ministry one after the other, highlighting both their progress so far and the areas where greater results are expected.

Tunji-Ojo commended the Controller General of NCoS, Nwankwoche, for steering the service towards meaningful reforms, noting that correctional centres must move away from being places of mere punishment. He noted that the service had already witnessed significant improvements under its current leadership.

He stressed that the new performance contract must consolidate these reforms and move the service closer to true correction and rehabilitation.

He said, “Correctional service is becoming transformational, rehabilitatory, and reformatory. I don’t want our centres to be places of condemnation, but places of true correction. You are doing well, but please, do not drop the ball. Concentrate more and make the President proud of your appointment.”

Addressing the Federal Fire Service (FFS), which recently got a new Controller General, the minister described the service as “the baby of the house” and urged its leadership to transform fire and rescue operations in Nigeria. He said the agency must embrace innovation and open itself to private sector participation.

“By this time next year, I want to see a fire service that will be the custodian of emergency medical and rescue services. I want to see a fire service liberalized to allow private sector participation, judged not by the number of incidents but by assets saved. The law is being worked on with the National Assembly, and when passed, the responsibility will be on your shoulders. Please, do not disappoint,” he said.

For the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Tunji-Ojo acknowledged that the commission had made strides in data security under Coker-Odusote’s leadership.

However, he cautioned that much more was required to strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s identity architecture.

Tunji-Ojo said, “Since you came on board, we have seen improvement in tackling duplicity of data and abuse of identity processes. But there is room for improvement, especially in verification and registration. I trust NIMC to deliver.”

The minister urged the Civil Defence Corps under Prof. Audi to surpass last year’s achievements.

He said, “We must cascade the same level of excellence you see in the ministry into civil defence, immigration, correctional service, fire service, and NIMC. Let us move from 85% to 100% performance. Let Nigerians feel our impact as agents of Renewed Hope,” he said.

He added, “The Immigration Service must continue to drive border reforms and strengthen national identity systems in line with Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”

Tunji-Ojo noted the importance of training, retraining, and capacity building across all agencies. He tasked the ministry’s board to prioritise professional development, noting that, “You can’t ask officers to give you what you haven’t deposited in them. A well-trained service will always give the best performance.”

He also praised ministry directors and aides, particularly the Department of Planning, Research, and Statistics (PRS), for driving reforms from planning to execution.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, CG NCoS, Nwankwoche, assured that the service will strengthen internal mechanisms, “We will cascade the lessons from this retreat down to the least officers and deliver value in all we do.”

Also speaking, the FFS CG, described his signing as a “new chapter” adding that “I came in two weeks ago. By the next retreat, Nigerians will see a new fire service with positive impact.”

On his part, the CG NSCDC, Audi, said the Corps would surpass its 2024 performance: “We signed one last year and did very well, but this year we want to improve further. We will roll out detailed strategies to deliver dividends of democracy in line with our mandate.”

Director, PRS Ministry of Interior, in his closing remark, said, “The expectation is that the agencies will abide by the terms of their performance contracts and deliver results measurable under the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

Tunji-Ojo stressed that the goal is to build strong institutions, not structures that collapse with individual leadership.

“It is not my dream to build a Ministry of Interior that only performs under me. My dream is to build an institution that outlives any individual. Let us perfect our performance, deliver Renewed Hope, and make Nigerians proud,” the minister added.

FG Sets New Performance Targets For Paramilitary Chiefs is first published on The Whistler Newspaper