NSCDC Clarifies Role in Salary, Promotion Arrears Payments

By Gambo Jagindi
January 31, 2025

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has issued an official clarification stating that its Commandant General does not possess the authority to approve or disburse salary arrears, promotion arrears, or other personnel emoluments for officers of the Corps.

The clarification followed reports circulating on some online platforms alleging non-payment of promotion arrears and the withholding of welfare funds by the leadership of the service.

In a statement released on Thursday by the Corps’ National Public Relations Officer, ACC Afolabi Babawale, the NSCDC explained that responsibility for such payments rests solely with the Presidential Committee on Arrears and not with the management of the Corps.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Commandant General does not control the payment of salary arrears, promotion arrears or other emoluments,” the statement said.

According to the Corps, the Presidential Committee on Arrears is chaired by the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation and the Accountant-General of the Federation, who oversee approvals and disbursements in line with established federal financial procedures.

The NSCDC described the reports attributing payment delays to its leadership as false and misleading, noting that they were capable of creating unnecessary tension within the service and misinforming the public.

Providing additional background, the Corps disclosed that when the current leadership assumed office in 2021, it inherited unpaid salary arrears spanning five years from 2015. Through sustained engagements with relevant government institutions, the Corps stated that arrears covering the 2015–2019 period were subsequently paid, benefiting more than 37,000 personnel nationwide.

On arrears for the 2020–2022 period, the statement indicated that all required applications had been submitted to the Presidential Committee on Arrears and that approval for payment had already been granted. It added that the payment schedule is currently with the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, awaiting release to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System for disbursement.

The Corps further disclosed that arrears for 2023 and 2024 are yet to receive presidential approval and budgetary release, stressing that public funds cannot be disbursed outside approved processes.

Addressing promotion-related concerns, the NSCDC confirmed that the 2025 promotion examination results were released in December 2025, and that steps are ongoing to capture the associated arrears within the appropriate budget cycle.

Reaffirming the leadership’s position, the statement quoted Commandant General Prof. Abubakar Ahmed Audi as maintaining a commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous engagement with relevant authorities to ensure outstanding entitlements are addressed.

The Corps advised members of the public and the media to rely on official channels for accurate information and to disregard unverified reports capable of undermining institutional stability.