By Palma Ileye
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has said that there were no plans by its personnel to boycott the forth coming polls.
In a press release issued from its headquarters in Abuja today by the Corps Public Relations Officer, DCC Olusola Odumosu, stated that there had been reports that operatives of the Corps plan to boycott 2023 election coverage due to outstanding allowances for 2022 Osun and Ekiti election coverage.
The statement read, “The Corps wishes to debunk such speculations as thousands of NSCDC personnel will be deployed to every nook and cranny, critical national infrastructures not exempting the protection of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, it’s staff and electoral materials, all in a bid to ensure a peaceful election.
“More dedicated than ever to ensure citizens and the country at large is adequately secured to enable citizens experience a free, fair and transparent election.
“Although personnel of the Corps that took part in the Ekiti and Osun State Governorship elections in 2022 are yet to receive their allowances, the management of NSCDC has taken bold steps in ensuring the allowances are paid before the presidential election.
“The Federal Government recently released Osun election allowances which is in the process of disbursement to operatives who participated in the election duty and it was also promised that the allowances for Ekiti election is in the process of release to the Corps.
“The recently released fund was due to the commitment and passion of the Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, OFR to ensure that staff welfare is not tampered with.
“Worried by the initial delay, Dr Audi, set up an action committee, headed by the Director of Finance and Accounts, DFA, Mrs Comfort Danladi, to make necessary follow-ups with the Federal Ministry of Finance in ensuring the release of the funds.
“The cooperation received from the Ministry of Finance in respect of the payment of the election allowances prompted the assurances by the Corps’ management to personnel that the process had begun, hence, the need to sue for more patience at that time.”
It continued, “It is worthy of note that, the CG is very passionate about the welfare of personnel and would not fold his arms and allow personnel to groan in anguish, pain or very low morale in the course of carrying out their duties especially in the forthcoming general elections.
“Concerned personnel are therefore urged to exercise more patience as the payment process cannot be completed in one day.
“The Corps therefore wishes to implore those attempting to cause confusion in the Corps not to waste their time and efforts as it will be an exercise in futility.
“The Corps is a professional body and a regimented organisation with well trained and highly disciplined personnel that have full understanding of paramilitary doctrines and public service rules, and would not be coarsed into engaging in acts of Indiscipline or sabotage against the nation.
“Personnel of the Corps are educated and enlightened enough to understand that allowances are only added incentives to salaries and not a right, and that sometimes, bureaucratic bottlenecks can be responsible for such delays.
“Besides, the Commandant General has reiterated times without numbers that under his administration, “the era of monkey dey work, baboon dey chop” in the Corps is over.
“Dr Audi believed in the mantra which says “give unto ceasar what is caesar’s,” therefore, personnel are urged not to lose faith in the Corps’ leadership, nor allow disgruntled elements within or outside the organisation to mislead or hoodwink them into taking wrong actions that could jeopardise their careers.”
The NSCDC also stated that Ministry of Finance can be reached for more details about the circumstances surrounding the delay in payment of the election allowances.