By Tobias Lengnan Dapam
To say that NSCDC under Abubaakar Audi is waxing stronger is to say the least. That the new Sherrif has repositioned the service to its lost glory is to put it mildly. That the service is now a subject of admiration by other services under the ministry of interior is to state the obvious.
When the first Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ade Abolurin ceremoniously bowed out of service in 2015, there was bedlam, over who could step in to his big shoes.
These concerns were not only within the service, as former top security officers submitted credentials to occupy the top office of the NSCDC. After a lot of vicissitudes, Gana Muhammed was given the mantle to take over from where Abolurin left. But this appointment seemed to be that of a square peck in round hole, as he could not live up to the expectations of many, who thought that the service was capable of producing a top class officer to continue with the legacy of Abolurin.
Unfortunately, his four years tenure was characterized by poor staff welfare, internal wrangling and poor leadership direction. In fact, many at the court of public opinion opined that the service was heading for the rock.
But when his tenure was not renewed, the service took a better direction with the appointment of Hillary Madu, the most senior officer, who was appointed in acting capacity on 18 January, 2021.
The officer gave the service a better direction. At least, he toed the line of the founding fathers by ensuring that the name of the service was not dragged to the mud.
In fact, Madu raised the ante to usher in the latest Sherrif of the NSCDC, Dr. Abubaakar Audi, who many believed was well tutored by Abolurin, to redeem the lost image of the corps.
When he took charge, on 1st March, 2021, Audi, promised to reposition the Corps to surpass the dreams and expectations of the agency’s forebears.
Delivering his inaugural speech at the NSCDC Headquarters in Abuja, Audi, said he will soon establish a formidable Women Corps that will compete favourably with their male counterparts in training, tactics and efficiently in service delivery.
According to him, the Agro-Rangers Unit, which is the latest addition to the mandates of the Corps will be repackaged and rebranded.
“We shall fortify the rangers with adequate training and re-training programmes to key into the agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure food security and banish hunger in the country, by protecting and securing farmers and their investments from incessant attacks by bandits, cattle rustlers, terrorists and other criminals,” said the NSCDC boss.
Dr. Audi, who promised to invest heavily in human capital development, added that he will surround himself with a team of experts, professionals and a think-tank that will spearhead the digitalization process of the Corps.
Female squad
Audi commenced work immediately by establishing the female squad to enhancing security in schools susceptible to bandits’ attack.
He said the squad was necessitated by the waves of insecurity across the country.
“Female Squad is a child of necessity borne out of the need to effectively curtail the recent upsurge of insecurity occasioned by armed banditry, kidnapping, insurgency and the need to effectively implement government’s proposed Safe School Initiative.
“Recent upsurge and frequency of attacks by bandits who engage in kidnapping of students for ransom has made it imperative to focus attention on intensifying security in schools environment.
“This is a proactive measure toward guaranteeing safety and restoring the confidence of students, parents, teachers and the community in the country’s security architecture,’’ Audi said.
He said that the corps would continue to take proactive measures in collaboration with sister agencies to guarantee security for the socio-economic development of the country.
The commandant-general charged the personnel to continue to do their best in combating security challenges facing the nation.
Commending the initiative, Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola commended the leadership of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for taking the lead in establishing a Female Squad as part of strategies to address the present security challenges confronting the nation.
Minister who was at the passing out parade expressed his delight over the initiative, saying that the move will no doubt add value to the security architecture of the country, while at the same time enhancing the capacity and operational efficiency of the Corps.
Speaking on the significance of women in the fight against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms on insecurity, Aregbesola reiterated that since women account for more than half of the nation’s population, it is very apt to include them in all aspects of nation building as studies have shown that women are more likely to attract the cooperation, confidence and trust of the citizens than their male counterparts.
He maintained that the spike in security challenges in the country occasioned by the activities of Boko Haram insurgency, armed banditry, robbery, kidnappings, farmers/herders clashes among others necessitated the clamour for security agencies to redouble their efforts by strategizing to provide a safe and secure environment, where meaningful development can thrive.
He assured the leadership of the corps of the President’s resolve to continue to enhance the capacity of the NSCDC to effectively deliver on its mandates through adequate funding and provision of modern security equipment.
Aregbesola urged the newly established Female Squad to exhibit high level of discipline, focus, vigilance and mental alertness in discharging their responsibilities while calling on the citizens to provide operatives with actionable intelligence that will assist in finding lasting solution to the problem of incessant kidnapping of school children for ransom.
Intelligence gathering
On partnership and intelligence gathering to address insecurity, gave licence to 17 Private Guard Companies, to help the security agencies in quelling insecurity.
Audi said, the various security agencies in the country must work together to address challenges.
He also called on the owners of private guard companies to share information with NSCDC on any criminal activities.
“The country is passing through crisis. We need to collaborate. Your position is very critical, and you must do your best in areas of intelligence gathering to help in addressing these security challenges.
“Nobody is an island. We need each other. Everyone should contribute his quota where necessary.
“Today’s occasion is as important to me as it is to the operators
that will be receiving their licences as it marks the first presentation under my watch as the Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Therefore, we have a place in the history together that we must guide jealously. While it is my duty to ensure utmost performance of the Industry, special attention would be paid to the recipients of today, towards ensuring that you perform exceptionally in line with my dream to upbeat the Corps operational activities as well as the Private Security Industry in order to play our expected role in the face of the present day security challenges.”
He reminded them that the Corps remains their only regulator and security reports which must be rendered on a monthly basis to the service.
He warned them against unprofessional conduct, saying any act not in line with laid down rules will be dealt with.
“Your licence is not transferable and can be revoked if you fail to renew as and when due. You are prohibited from using firearms but if you have a job that may require the use of arms, our arms squad in our State Commands would provide the cover when you liaise with the State Commandants.
Use of ranks of any kind and accoutrement that has semblance to the military or paramilitary is prohibited.
No company should engage in the training of guards without the involvement of our State Command.
The biometrics of all your guards must be captured in the PSID platform and the number conspicuously displayed on their uniforms. The first-hand information of any major security breach in company’s coverage areas must be reported by the company to the Corps to avoid sanctions.
Promotion
The Commandant General, said promotion of officers under his watch will be based on merit.
Speaking while decorating 5 Acting Deputy Commandant Generals (ACGs) and 12 Commandants, the CG, lamented that some of the newly promoted officers were denied promotion for the past 11 years.
“When this promotion came up, I removed some people on the list who were promoted within the past 3 years. This kind of practice is not fair to people who have been denied promotion for more than 11 years.
“As a commandant of this corps, I will ensure that merit prevails. The era of sacrificing merit at the alter of mediocrity is over.
“When I was appointed, I told you that I am a product of merit. I will continue to promote positive culture for a unique identity for the corps”.
He urged them to mentor the young ones and shun corrupt.
“All of us must join hands and work together. You must teach the young ones and encourage them to do better. I also urge you not to soil your hands in unproductive ventures; as corruption will not be condoned under my watch”.
Welfare
On welfare package for officers, the CG said he places high premium on the welfare of personnel, knowing undoubtedly that to build a virile, dynamic and productive workforce, conscious efforts must be made to motivate the staff towards putting in their best for more dedicated service.
In view of the above, the Commandant General who is barely eight months in office, has stressed that he will leave no stone unturned to ensure high welfare packages for officers and men of the corps through a robust and well-structured plan to increase personnel morale.
Audi who stressed this in different fora said his roadmap for the Corps cannot be compromised having established the template of his planned thoughts and possible action to follow in line with his avowed commitment to initiate programs that would benefit the entire personnel and not a section of the Corps like the cooperative members.
The corps in a statement recently released by its spokesperson, Olusola Odumosu said “It is worthy of note that within eight months of his assumption of leadership of the Corps, the Commandant General has ensured the promotion of officers and men who have remained on same rank for 3 to 10 years, he began processing the payment of the backlog of promotion arrears of personnel which was meant to have been paid by the last administration and gave special promotion, awards and commendation letters to officers who distinguished themselves in line of duty within his 100 days in office.
“In furtherance, Dr Audi gave out cheques of over two-million-naira (N2M) for Group Personal Accident benefits to personnel who sustained various degrees of injuries in the cause of discharging their duties. Not to mention the over twenty-million-naira (N20m) worth of cheques being distributed as part of payment for Group Life Insurance which is managed by the Head of service.
“In keeping with his promise, the Commandant General has paid over 150 families the outstanding burial benefits and entitlements of deceased personnel long forgotten before his appointment as the CG to the tune of Forty million naira (N40m) while also working assiduously to pay the backlog of outstanding benefits of about 60 families to the tune of over two hundred million naira (N200m) which has been lingering since 2013. Ongoing is the second phase of compilation of remaining personnel that has sustained injuries in the cause of discharging their duties and about 60 officers and men will be paid not less than twenty-one million naira (N21m) as Group Personal Accident Benefits.
With these achievements, many believe that the NSCD under Audi will attract laurels that surpassed that of Abolurin.
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