The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Audi, has voiced strong concerns over the enduring issue of officers remaining stagnant in rank without promotion for extended periods, labeling it as both unfair and a great injustice.
Addressing attendees at the decoration ceremony of recently promoted Assistant Commandants General and Commandants of Corps, organized by the Federal Government in Abuja on Wednesday, Dr Audi expressed his dismay over the persistence of this problem, emphasizing that some personnel within the Corps had experienced a lack of promotion for up to 13 years before his assumption of leadership.
Dr Audi highlighted the detrimental impact of such stagnation on staff morale, increased indiscipline, and a loss of confidence in the system due to perceived injustice and an unregulated pattern of promotion. He emphasized the absence of set standards for measuring performance and career progression within the Corps, which he pledged to rectify.
“Before my tenure, it is on record that stagnation, cutting across all ranks in the Service, has dampened staff morale, heightened indiscipline, and has also led to a loss of confidence in the system, borne out of perceived injustice, and an unregulated pattern of promotion,” said Dr Audi.
He further elaborated, “There was stagnation, some eight years, some 10 years, even 12 years, and there is even one that spent 13 years as a Deputy Commandant. This is very, very unfair. That is a great injustice, and it is not that they have not been passing exams.”
Dr Audi went on to reveal that he had encountered situations where juniors were placed ahead of seniors due to what he referred to as “some special CG lists.” He promptly annulled such lists upon assuming office, citing the need for a fair and transparent promotion system.
Confronted with these challenges, Dr Audi committed to addressing the observed irregularities, particularly in the promotion of officers and men, and the broader issue of career progression. He expressed pride in fulfilling this commitment, citing the recent promotion exercise that benefited over 21,000 personnel as a testament to the NSCDC’s dedication to aligning words with actions.
Dr Audi concluded by assuring that the era of stagnation in the Corps had come to an end, reaffirming his commitment to maintaining the momentum and implementing reforms that would create a robust incentive structure, foster high morale, and enhance job satisfaction for all NSCDC staff.
