NSCDC clears air on promotion, salary delays

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has dismissed allegations of non-payment of promotion and salary arrears, noting that the current leadership of the service does not control the disbursement of such funds.

The clarification followed complaints by some personnel who alleged that promotion arrears spanning 2022 to 2024 had not been paid, despite repeated assurances that the funds had already been released.

The aggrieved officers also accused the leadership of withholding welfare-related funds.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Afolabi Babawale, NSCDC spokesperson, described the allegations as false, misleading and malicious, insisting that they were aimed at discrediting the leadership of the Corps under the Commandant General, Abubakar Audi.

The statement explained that the payment of salary and promotion arrears is not within the purview of the NSCDC leadership, but is handled by the Presidential Committee on Arrears, which is chaired by the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation and the Accountant-General of the Federation.

“Following an unconfirmed report published in some online media platforms dated 23 January 2026, the NSCDC wishes to set the record straight that the allegation of non-payment of promotion arrears and withholding of funds meant for personnel welfare by the leadership of the Corps under Abubakar Audi is false, baseless, misleading, and malicious,” the statement said.

According to the Corps, the publication amounted to a “campaign of calumny” designed to mislead the public, create unnecessary tension and malign the integrity of the NSCDC leadership.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to inform the public that the Commandant General does not control the payment of salary arrears, promotion arrears, or other emoluments.

“The payment of arrears falls squarely under the Presidential Committee on Arrears, chaired by the Director-General, Budget Office of the Federation, and the Accountant General of the Federation, and not the NSCDC,” the Corps added.

It noted that contrary to claims that no arrears had been paid since 2022, payment records showed steady progress in the settlement of outstanding obligations.

It also disclosed that the current leadership inherited about five years of unpaid salary arrears upon assuming office in 2021.

NSCDC said the Commandant General, through sustained engagement with relevant government agencies, facilitated the clearance of salary arrears covering the period from 2015 to 2019, with over 37,000 personnel benefiting from the exercise.

“It is on record that the current leadership of the Corps inherited five years of unpaid salary arrears upon assumption of duty in 2021, and with assiduous efforts and interface with government, the CG was able to clear the backlog from 2015 to 2019,” the statement said.

On the outstanding arrears for 2023 and 2024, it explained that they were yet to receive the necessary approvals from relevant authorities, stressing that disbursement of such funds requires presidential approval and budgetary release.

“For the 2023–2024 arrears, the arrears are yet to be approved by the relevant authorities, as the government cannot disburse funds without presidential approval and budgetary release,” it said.

NSCDC also clarified that the results of the 2025 promotion examination were only released in December 2025, adding that the process of capturing the associated financial implications in the budget was ongoing.

It appealed to NSCDC personnel across the country to remain calm and patient, assuring them that the leadership of the Corps was continuously engaging the Federal Government to ensure the release of funds for the payment of all outstanding arrears.