FG Fires 38 Senior NSCDC Officers.

The Federal Government has dismissed at least 38 senior officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, including an Assistant Commandant-General, in a sweeping disciplinary action carried out in the outgoing year.

The officers were removed from service over offences such as gross misconduct, insubordination and breaches of existing laws. The decision followed approval by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board under the Ministry of Interior.

NSCDC spokesperson, Babawale Afolabi, disclosed that a total of 76 personnel, spanning both senior and junior ranks, were sanctioned for various acts considered incompatible with the standards of the Corps.

He said 20 junior officers were dismissed outright, three were demoted by one rank, while seven others received formal warning letters.

Among senior officers, Afolabi revealed that two were demoted by two ranks, one officer was reduced by a rank, and five others were issued warning letters.

According to him, the Commandant-General of the Corps, Prof Ahmed Audi, has reiterated the administration’s determination to reform and reposition the NSCDC through sustained training and retraining, stressing that misconduct capable of bringing disrepute to the service would not be tolerated.

Providing further details, Afolabi said: “Various offences were addressed, and disciplinary measures were applied to 76 personnel, both senior and junior, to serve as a deterrent to others.

“In line with directives from the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board, disciplinary actions were taken against senior officers as recommended by the NSCDC Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee. About 38 senior officers, including an Assistant Commandant-General, were dismissed for gross misconduct, insubordination and acts unbecoming of superior officers, in accordance with the Public Service Rules.”

He added that the Junior Staff Disciplinary Committee also reviewed about 30 cases involving offences such as job racketeering, extortion, aiding illegal petroleum dealings, fraudulent activities, gun running, absence without leave and other violations of service regulations.

“Following deliberations on these cases, 20 personnel were dismissed from service, three were demoted by one rank, while seven others were issued warning letters,” he said.

Afolabi noted that the leadership of the Corps has urged officers and men to remain focused on their statutory duties, especially given the increasing responsibilities assigned to the NSCDC by the government.