The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has clarified the status of promotion and salary arrears following reports alleging non-payment and the withholding of welfare funds under the current leadership of the service.
This comes amid allegations by some personnel over the non-payment of promotion arrears spanning 2022 to 2024.
They lamented that they had yet to receive arrears tied to their promotions, despite repeated assurances that the payments had been made.
According to a statement on Thursday by the NSCDC Spokesman, Afolabi Babawale, the Commandant General, Abubakar Audi, does not have control over the payment of salary or promotion arrears, noting that such payments are handled by the Presidential Committee on Arrears, chaired by the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation and the Accountant General of the Federation.
Babawale said the current leadership inherited five years of unpaid salary arrears on assumption of office in 2021 and facilitated the clearance of arrears from 2015 to 2019, benefiting over 37,000 personnel.
He noted payment records show that progress has been made in the settlement of arrears, contrary to claims that no payments had been made since 2022.
The statement partly read, “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.
“From all intents and purposes, the said publication is a campaign of calumny, deliberately sponsored to mislead the public, cause unnecessary tension, and malign the integrity of the Corps’ 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.
“It should also be noted that payment records show clear progress, though the publication maliciously suggested that no arrears have been paid since 2022. This is incorrect and a complete falsehood. It is on record that the current leadership of the Corps inherited 5 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, where over 37,000 personnel benefited, contrary to erroneous claims that he withheld funds meant for personnel welfare.”
Babawale added that arrears for 2023 and 2024 were yet to be approved by the relevant authorities, noting that disbursement requires presidential approval and budgetary release.
He said, “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 is important to note that the 2025 promotion examination results were only released in December 2025, and the processing to include it in the budget is ongoing.”
Babawale, however, appealed to personnel nationwide to remain calm and patient, assuring them of continued engagement with the government on the release of funds for disbursement.
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