The Federal Government has dismissed no fewer than 38 senior officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, including an Assistant Commandant-General, in the outgoing year.
The affected officers were shown the door over offences ranging from gross misconduct and insubordination to violations of established laws. The dismissals were approved by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board under the Ministry of Interior.
The NSCDC spokesperson, Babawale Afolabi, disclosed that a total of 76 personnel, cutting across senior and junior cadres, faced various disciplinary sanctions during the year for conduct deemed unbecoming of officers.
According to him, 20 junior personnel were dismissed from service, three officers were demoted by one rank, while seven others received warning letters.
He added that among senior officers, two were demoted by two ranks, one officer was demoted by a rank, and five others were issued warning letters.
Babawale said the Commandant-General of the Corps, Prof Ahmed Audi, reaffirmed the administration’s resolve to overhaul and reposition the NSCDC through continuous training and retraining, stressing that acts capable of damaging the image of the service would not be tolerated.
Speaking further on disciplinary actions taken within the year, Babawale said: “Various offences were attended to and 76 personnel involving Senior and Junior Staff had various disciplinary measures meted on them to serve as deterrent to others.
“As directed by the Civil Defence Correctional Fire and Immigration Service Board; CDCFIB, Disciplinary action have been meted on some senior officers as recommended by the NSCDC Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee: about 38 Senior officers, including Assistant Commandant-General (ACG) have been dismissed on account of gross misconduct, insubordination and acts unbecoming of a superior officer, according to the Public Service Rules (PSR).’’
He explained that the Junior Staff Disciplinary Committee also handled about 30 cases involving offences such as job racketeering, extortion, aiding and abetting illegal petroleum dealings, fraudulent practices, gun running, absence without leave and other acts contrary to service regulations.
“After the sittings of the Junior Staff Disciplinary Committee on about 30 cases involving various degree 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 (JSDC),” he said.
Babawale added that the NSCDC leadership has charged officers and men to remain committed to their statutory responsibilities, especially in view of the expanding duties assigned to the Corps by the government.
