Ondo Election: NSCDC Personnel Express Frustration Over Delay in Election Allowances
Personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) who were deployed for the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State have raised concerns over the delay in the payment of their allowances. Despite the election being held more than 10 days ago, the 6,000 NSCDC officers, including those from neighboring states such as Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Lagos, Edo, and Delta, have yet to receive their due payments.
The officers expressed frustration over the prolonged delay, especially since other security agencies like the police have already been compensated.
Several aggrieved officers, speaking on condition of anonymity, vented their dissatisfaction over the delay, citing the current economic challenges in the country.
They found it unnecessary for their allowances to be held back, especially after providing crucial security services during the election. The officers pointed out that their counterparts in other agencies had already been paid, adding to their sense of injustice.
In response to the complaints, the spokesperson for the NSCDC, Babawale Afolabi, addressed the issue, stating that the management had investigated the matter. Afolabi revealed that he had met with senior officials, including the Deputy Commandant General Operations and the General Commandant, to discuss the situation. According to him, the management assured that the officers had already been paid their allowances while they were deployed on the field during the election.
Despite these assurances, the officers remain dissatisfied, questioning why they have not received their payments directly and continuing to seek clarification on the issue. The delay in paying allowances for election-related duties has raised concerns about the NSCDC’s handling of the welfare of its personnel.
