No fewer than 38 senior officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been dismissed from service over allegations of gross misconduct, insubordination and acts unbecoming of superior officers.
The dismissed officers include an Assistant Commandant General, according to the Public Service Rules.
Naijaonpoint understands that, in addition to the dismissals, two senior officers were demoted by two ranks, while another officer was demoted by one rank with loss of seniority. Five others were issued warning letters.
The Commandant General of the NSCDC, Professor Ahmed Audi, disclosed this while presenting his scorecard for the year.
Audi further revealed that the Corps’ Junior Staff Disciplinary Committee also deliberated on about 30 cases involving offences such as job racketeering, extortion, aiding and abetting illegal dealings in petroleum products, fraudulent practices, gunrunning, absence without official leave and other acts considered unbecoming of personnel.
He said the cases were handled in line with the NSCDC Standard Operating Procedures, Code of Conduct and the Public Service Rules.
“After the sittings of the Junior Staff Disciplinary Committee on about 30 cases involving various degrees of gross misconduct, 20 personnel have been dismissed from the service, three personnel were demoted by one rank, while seven personnel were issued warning letters as recommended by the NSCDC Junior Staff Disciplinary Committee,” he said.
The NSCDC boss charged officers and men of the Corps to remain focused on their statutory responsibilities, particularly in view of the increasing tasks assigned to the agency by the Federal Government.
“To whom much is given, much is expected. Therefore, professionalism, loyalty, and regimental discipline must be the watchword,” Audi stated.
The Commandant General also expressed the Corps’ readiness to undertake the VIP protection duty recently assigned to it through a Presidential Order.
He noted that although the current manpower of the Corps is relatively limited compared to the enormity of the task, NSCDC operatives are fully prepared to carry out the responsibility.
While stressing that the Corps recognises and rewards exceptionally outstanding officers who have distinguished themselves through good conduct, loyalty and dedication to national service, Audi warned that his administration would not tolerate truancy, indiscipline or violations of extant laws, ethics and the Code of Conduct.
The CG further affirmed that the NSCDC under his leadership has recorded visible and landmark achievements.
These, he said, include clearing the backlog of promotion arrears, introducing Career Progression Courses, implementing a Life Insurance Compensation Scheme for families of deceased personnel, ensuring compliance with the federal character principle in appointments and promotions, and promoting gender inclusiveness within the Corps.