The Joint Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives on Interior have commended the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for what lawmakers described as significant reforms across agencies under the ministry.
The commendation came on Tuesday during a joint session of the committees at the National Assembly of Nigeria, where the minister and members of the interior management team appeared for the 2026 budget defence.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, Adams Oshiomhole, speaking on behalf of lawmakers, praised the minister’s reform initiatives, noted that they were already improving the country’s image both domestically and internationally.
According to Oshiomhole, ongoing reforms within the Nigeria Immigration Service have significantly enhanced professionalism and service delivery at the nation’s airports.
“Each time I pass through our airports now, I feel honoured and elated that our immigration service is wearing a new phase. The reforms currently being undertaken by the Minister are yielding appreciable results,” he said.
While acknowledging progress made so far, the lawmakers stressed the need to sustain the reforms to ensure long-term institutional impact across agencies supervised by the ministry.
The committee chairman also referenced recent directives by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assigning the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps expanded responsibilities, including protection of VIPs, describing the move as a demonstration of growing confidence in the agency’s capacity to safeguard lives and property.
Oshiomhole further highlighted ongoing improvements within the Federal Fire Service, noting that the Senate had earlier passed a resolution directing the ministry to assess recent fire incidents in Kano that destroyed shops and private property.
He also acknowledged reform efforts within the Nigerian Correctional Service, stating that the newly appointed leadership was aligning its operations with the minister’s reform agenda.
However, the lawmakers urged the Civil Defence, Correctional, Immigration and Fire Service Board to expedite the ongoing recruitment exercise. The committee noted growing concerns among applicants who had completed examinations and were awaiting results.
The joint committees charged the board to treat the conclusion of the recruitment process as a matter of urgent national importance and promptly release the list of successful candidates.
The session formed part of the National Assembly’s ongoing oversight and budget review process aimed at strengthening accountability and service delivery across government institutions.
