OSAS EMMANUEL
The House of Representatives has resolved to probe recruitment, staff quota and promotion process at the Nigeria Security
and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), without adherence to federal character and the country at large.
The resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by two members of the House, Awaji-Inombek Abiante and Dumnamene R. Dekor at plenary.
The lawmakers noted that NSCDC is primarily charged with the responsibility to maintain peace and order, protection of public infrastructure and rescuing of the civil population during an emergency.
They also noted that recent reports indicated that the NSCDC has not been observing the principles of federal character in its recruitment processes thus, marring the Corps with irregularities, racketeering, favouritism and nepotism, as well as securing convictions for erring officials.
“Aware that the recent recruitment exercises by the NSCDC were marred with favouritism and abuse of Federal Character Principles, where the management team used their position and influence in high places of authority to recruit family members, as reported that a recruitment exercise was done without advertisement with over 90 employment letters returned to the headquarters from Imo state as those who were to receive their letters did not show up and that those slots were reported to belong to Rivers state indigenes.
“Cognizant of the fact that in 2021, the Joint Committee on Security and Public Service of the Bauchi State Assembly led by Honourable Sabo Bako Sade recommended outright rejection of the recruitment exercise as being fraudulent, which resolutions the Bauchi State House of Assembly adopted and
communicated same to the NSCDC headquarters.
“Also cognizant of the judgment of the Sokoto State High Court which sentenced two officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mainasara Malami and Emmanuel Salihu, respectively to fourteen years imprisonment for defrauding four persons of l.9 million, under the pretence of securing jobs for them.
“Worried that this ugly precedence has become a frequent occurrence in the NSCDC and currently, indigenes of other states are being employed, promoted and allocated in the place of the quota for Rivers state indigenes,” the lawmakers submitted.
Adopting the motion, the House mandated the Committees on Interior, Federal Character and Public Service Matters to investigate recruitment, staff quota and promotion exercises carried out by NSCDC over a period of 10 years and report back within six weeks for further legislative action.
