The spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Darlington Nwauju, has applauded the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for facilitating the promotion of 75,202 officers across the four paramilitary agencies under the ministry.

Nwauju said the development reflects a renewed culture of recognition, fairness, and professional growth within the Ministry of Interior, noting that Tunji-Ojo’s leadership has activated the key motivational drivers essential in any productive work environment.

According to him:

“Nigerians should be concerned with identifying square pegs in square holes — people who have the capacity to deliver tangible dividends from taxpayers’ money. Public service must remain performance-driven with measurable indices.”

He added that the ministry, once known primarily for announcing public holidays, has now undergone a transformation that stands in sharp contrast to what he described as its “inglorious past.”

Reference to the 2014 Recruitment Tragedy

Nwauju recalled the poorly managed recruitment exercise of 2014 under the then PDP-led administration, where thousands of job seekers were crowded into stadia in cities such as Abuja, Benin, Port Harcourt, Minna, Kano, and Lagos. The chaotic process led to multiple fatalities and hundreds of injuries.

“Nigerians were packed like sardines in a catastrophic recruitment exercise… That tragic incident involved just the Immigration Service alone,” he said.

He contrasted it with the recent recruitment exercises conducted for all four paramilitary agencies under Tunji-Ojo’s oversight, describing them as seamless, technology-driven, and devoid of the disorder of the past.

Call to Officers

Nwauju urged officers within the paramilitary agencies to reciprocate the federal government’s gesture by intensifying their commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s internal security.