Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps personnel have renewed allegations that promotion arrears owed to officers for the period 2022–2024 remain unpaid, and that funds allocated for allowances, including those tied to election duties, have been withheld or diverted by senior leadership, claims that are reverberating across social media and independent news outlets in Nigeria. The controversy has intensified concerns about welfare, transparency, and financial governance within the paramilitary agency.
Serving officers speaking anonymously to journalists said that thousands of NSCDC personnel nationwide have not received the arrears due to them following promotions over the past three years, despite repeated official assurances that the payments were processed. One source quoted by Sahara Reporters said that although the corps’ leadership has publicly claimed that all promotion arrears have been cleared, many officers have yet to see any payment credited to their accounts.
“These arrears from 2022 to 2024 have not been paid,” one officer said. “I was promoted in 2023 and by 2025 had still not been paid; my arrears alone amount to over a million naira, and many of my colleagues are in the same situation,” the source added, underscoring the financial strain felt by rank‑and‑file personnel amid Nigeria’s broader economic pressures.
In addition to promotion arrears, the officers alleged that money earmarked for allowances related to election duties was “cornered” by the leadership and not paid to those who were deployed during electoral operations. In Nigeria, security personnel deployed for elections are typically entitled to additional stipends or allowances, reflecting the extended responsibilities and risks associated with those duties. The absence of these payments, officers argue, has further deepened frustration within the corps.
Those speaking out emphasised a pervasive fear among personnel of reprisals or victimisation should they publicly criticise the hierarchy. Many officers said they preferred anonymity for their own safety and to avoid professional consequences. This atmosphere of apprehension points to broader concerns about internal culture and the ability of personnel to raise grievances without fear of punitive action.
Efforts to secure an official response from the NSCDC or its Commandant‑General, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, were not successful at the time of reporting. The corps’ leadership typically responds to crises with statements highlighting reforms and welfare initiatives, but in this instance said responses were not available. Independent reporting noted that requests for comment from NSCDC spokespersons were unanswered.
The current dispute arises against a backdrop of wider structural challenges in how government agencies manage payroll and entitlements. The Nigerian federal government has been engaged in ongoing efforts to reform payroll systems through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), aimed at centralising and standardising payments to civil and paramilitary personnel. These reforms follow numerous complaints across federal agencies related to salary irregularities, deductions, and unpaid arrears.
While IPPIS has been defended by authorities as a tool for improving transparency and efficiency, personnel from various agencies have criticised its implementation, saying that it has sometimes led to delays or complications in processing payments. Amid these systemic debates, parliamentarians have at times called for investigations into delayed promotions and arrears payments, including urging the NSCDC leadership to explain gaps between approved promotions and actual disbursement of associated entitlements.
The welfare dispute within the NSCDC also occurs amid broader public debate about the conditions of service for security personnel in Nigeria. In recent years, government officials have highlighted efforts to improve conditions through promotions, training, and welfare programs. For example, senior officials in late 2025 reiterated a commitment to reforms intended to strengthen discipline and enhance personnel welfare within the corps. These efforts, however, have been met with scepticism from some officers who say that promises have not fully materialised in practice.
Under the leadership of Dr. Audi, the NSCDC has publicly emphasised disciplinary measures against erring officers and touted initiatives such as the introduction of career progression courses and insurance schemes for families of personnel killed in the line of duty. In a December 2025 press statement, the corps highlighted actions it said were aimed at improving service delivery and restoring accountability — even as critics argue that immediate financial grievances persist unresolved.
Analysts and security experts caution that unresolved welfare disputes can have broader implications for operational effectiveness and institutional cohesion. Morale among security personnel is widely seen as a critical component of performance, particularly in agencies like the NSCDC, which plays a multifaceted role in Nigeria’s security architecture — from protecting critical national infrastructure to assisting in community safety and order. Delays in entitlement payments, critics argue, could erode confidence in leadership and undermine trust within the ranks.
The unfolding controversy has also attracted the attention of civil society groups and governance watchdogs, many of whom have called for independent investigations and stronger oversight mechanisms to ensure that appropriated funds reach their intended recipients. Such groups argue that transparent processes and accountability are vital to upholding the rights of personnel and maintaining public confidence in security institutions.
Meanwhile, affected NSCDC personnel continue to press their case, seeking public awareness, institutional recourse, and swift payment of arrears and allowances owed to them. For these officers, the dispute is not merely financial; it strikes at questions of fairness, institutional credibility, and the dignity of service within one of Nigeria’s principal paramilitary corps.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments