October 30, (THEWILL) – A civil society group, the Coalition of Civil Society Networks and Groups (CCSNG), have petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari, demanding the immediate reform of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in line with global best practices and standard.
The group specifically called for the amendment of the Act establishing the Corps and its merger with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to eliminate duplication of duties.
THEWILL recalls several protests led by the group demanding immediate sack of the commandant general over alleged job racketeering among other misdemeanours.
The Coalition in a letter, dated 28th October, 2021 and signed by its Chairman, Comrade Zakari Hashim stated: “Worried by the current insecurity in the country, the federal Government should commence moves in amending the Act setting up the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC),
“There has been an enormous public dissatisfaction on the Conflicting Roles of the Nigerian Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and also the misplacement of mandate and job racketeering going on in the NSCDC, This outcry by citizens demands attention and immediate actions for reforms and amendment into the acts establishing NSCDC.
“Nigeria have witnessed two economic recessions and increased rate of insecurity within the period of this administration and despite the huge amount of financial support to security agencies.
“This is not fair to the president and the entire citizenry who has been making great efforts to curb insecurity in the nation.
“This economic situation calls for the Government to merge the NSCDC with the Nigerian Police force so as to reduce the excessive cost of Governance and improve the shortage man power of the Nigerian Police whose mandates are clearly defined and accessible to citizens unlike that of the NSCDC whose mandates has been misplaced and now render personally services to VIPs and elites in the society.
“The act if amended and reform will review the current security situation in the country, examine the level of risk to critical assets and infrastructure, and find ways of working together to safeguarding them.
“We equally use this opportunity to call the attention of the Chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR not to make himself or his office available to people boasting in public domain that they own the chief of staff to Mr. President; hence they can do and undo but we want to assure all and sundry that the country is bigger than individual and Nigeria belongs to everybody and belongs to no body as well.
“The Chief of Staff should as a matter of urgent actions summit necessary recommendations and advice the president appropriately on the outcry by Nigerians to reform the NSCDC and join them with the Nigerian Police Force.
“How can a security organization like the NSCDC publicly display arms purchased to fight insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other social related crimes, this action clearly shows that the NSCDC is incapacitated and lacks professionalism to fight crimes.
“We demand for proper investigation on recruitments processes in NSCDC, regarding Job racketeering in recruitments exercise. In the recent times money is now used in getting appointment letters from the NSCDC. Citizens now pay hugely to get a job in the agency and most times citizens are duped without any appointment letter issued. This outcry by Nigerian youth demands immediate attention.
“Many Nigerian youths sells their hard earn family and private properties to seek employment in NSCDC and other Government agencies with no assurances of offering them Job. It is no longer news here in the public domain that NSCDC is at the fore front of the agencies in the country that practice such a corrupt act with impunity.
“We thank you President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR for your relentless pursuit and support to security agencies. This has however demonstrated your willingness and commitment in addressing raising security challenges confronting us as a nation and we would continue to rally necessary support for you and the administration.
“With the recent economic instability, The Federal Government can no longer continue to fund the NSCDC which has failed to live up to her responsibility rather than providing guards to VIPs and elite while their primary responsibility suffer setback and abused on a daily basis.
“It is no longer advice able for Government to continue to fund a security organization who’s internally generating revenues via the above-mentioned is far more than enough to make them self-funded and yet they don’t remit a dine to the Government coffers. This we consider a huge waste of resource and tax payers’ money while the Nigerian police suffer setback from lack of enough resources in carrying out their mandates…. We consider this not fair to you Mr president or the nation at large?
“Lastly, we hereby pass a vote of confidence on the National Security Adviser, the Nigerian Police force and the Inspector General of police for their gallantry efforts in promoting dialogue, peace and stability and we appeal to you President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR to double more resources and manpower for the Nigerian Police force while we equally pass similar vote of confidence on other sister security agencies like the Department of State Security Services and the Nigerian Army for intelligence and prompt operations.
“We shall continue to work under this platform of Coalition of Civil Society Network to ensure that Nigeria succeeds in a quest to restore the lost Confidence the system on the Nigerian Youths.”
