Citizens Watch Advocacy Initiative (CWAI), Abuja, a pro-democracy, anti-corruption and civil society group, has commended and applauded the Commandant-General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi for breaking the jinx by being the first Commandant-General to be so honoured and awarded the National Merit Award as Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) by President Muhammadu Buhari recently.
This was in recognition of his outstanding and selfless service to the cause of the Civil Defence and the protection of lives and property, including critical national assets across the country.In a related development, a letter signed by the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, His Excellency George Akume, commended the efforts of the Commandant for his invaluable services and growth to the cardinal role of the Civil Defence, as well as congratulated him for going out and thinking outside the box to conceptualize initiatives and policies that strengthen the Civil Defence function and security of critical national assets.
It is noteworthy that the Commandant-General will be honoured alongside other esteemed and eminent Nigerians as the year winds up with the prestigious “Security Personality Award of the Year,” by the Guild of Civil Societies and Media Executives for Equity, Justice and Transparency in Nigeria (GOCMEJ), a civil society group with over 550 civil societies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), activists and bloggers under its umbrella, who have been advocating for transparency, accountability and good governance in Nigeria. This award recognizes excellence in public service across the country and on personalities who have carved a niche for themselves.
In a press released signed by Comrade Gabriel Gwajime, Director of Media of CWAI, he lauded the Commandant-General for the rebranding and repositioning of the security outfit, including changing the narrative of the Corps like never before in its history and also praised his efforts in conflict management as a result of the organization’s enhanced synergy and others in advisory Dispute Resolution between warring parties and dispute resolution mechanism put in place between farmers, herders, cattle rustlers and communities across the North, thereby stemming the endemic clashes which efforts have enhanced growth of food security and agro-allied investments across the African sub-region.
The statement also endorsed the reformation processes currently taking place in all sectors of the Corps as a result of manpower development and capacity building of officers and men; the prompt payment of salaries and arrears, enhanced staff welfare (esprit-de-corps), promotions of personnel to enhance service delivery, productivity and loyalty of officers to the nation at all times. This, the statement added, is no doubt, in tandem with best global practices and in collaboration with other sister security agencies.
CWAI attests that the giant strides so achieved in spite of the daunting challenges is as a result of the strategic directions, policies and programmes such as the commissioning of the standard curriculum for the NSCDC for entrenching career progression, effective supervision and regulating of the private guard companies in Nigeria.
The establishment of the Special Female Squad (SFS) and the creation of the Intelligence Squad under the CG’s office for effective monitoring and prosecutorial duties of the Corps are also worthy of notice.
CWAI noted that the CG is a key asset in the protection and safety of lives and property, including critical national assets which are not in doubt, as he has recently given marching orders to Commandants of the 36 states, including the FCT to ensure that they protect key assets within their jurisdiction during the ‘Ember Months,’ a period during which disgruntled and unpatriotic elements normally capitalize on to foment trouble which visit mayhem on patriotic and unsuspecting Nigerians.He has also used the occasion to advise Nigerians to give intelligence to the security agencies as intelligence gathering and information are key to fighting insurgency and echoed the toga of “see something, say something.”
The Commandant-General, the statement added, has also vowed to ensure that the ‘Ember Months’ are devoid of any rancor from any farmers and herders, as well as to reduce oil theft in conjunction with other security agencies to the barest minimum and urged his personnel to be good ambassadors of the Corps incorruptible and attuned to international best practices of security, wherever they found themselves or they were called upon to service.
In view of the foregoing, CWAI hereby has no hesitation in endorsing the CG’s transparent and prudent management of resources but also joined Nigerians and the President to congratulate him on his prestigious honour and say more grease to his elbows and that the nation is proud of vision and missions for the Corps and to say, we pray that this award will spur the men and officers of the NSCDC to give their best to their fatherland.
CWAI calls on the international community to also support the efforts of this proactive Commandant-General to enable him to further put in his best efforts for the general good of the nation.