OPINION : FRAUD KILLING NSCDC...
A glimpse at settings and workings at the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), hunter becomes the hunted in the face of impunity, corruption and injustice in the corps, under the control of Federal Ministry of interior in recent time as various degrees of atrocity , injustice and corruption be-face and perpetrated with free will at all level in the corps.
The corps initially known then in local parlance then as "Olopa tomatoes" is primarily saddled with so many responsibilities at defending and protecting our natural heritage and alternative security outfit for protecting lives and properties in the localities.
NSCDC was fully brought to limelight by the then Presidentent of the federal republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. The retired General did so mainly in 2004, to mainly provide jobs for teeming unemployed youths in the country, the dream was actually actualised in this regard to some extend.
Today, the corps has overwhelmingly Nigerians on board that are really doing well, unfortunately, series of impunity, corruption and injustice has taken over the security agency, that ought to be a model.
One may be shocked if not to the marrow that, today, well over 80% of the personnel submitted fake certificate at their various point of entries at one time or the other,as illiterates selling pepper in the market find their ways as members of the corps.
Interestingly,it would be recalled that in 2003, the federal Ministry of Internal Affairs, Abuja, immigration and prison service board constituted a screening committee, which did a wonderful job during the screening of the volunteers of Civil Defence Corps, and some of the names among the total number presented by each state were done according to each state wherever you may be doing your voluntary services and your name will appear in your state.
Numbers in the list of each state never exceeded 300. Then it was believed to be perfectly done and the officers were ranked according to the certificate presented. That was the first batch of 2004. The second batch came out in 2005, by this year, it was obvious that people lobbied and pay handsomely for ranks that most of the corps member did not merit.
The 2006/2007 batch witnessed influx of corps member that came in through back doors and they were tagged VIPs. Meanwhile, the first batch of 2004, were given appointment letters dated 12/12/2005, which they were even paid arrears, the impunity and fraud in the corps started immediately with this scenario.
By this time, both the senior and the junior staff of the corps employment became job for sales ,as ranks and officers position can be gotten, depends on how huge your money, hawkers take control of employment in the corps.
Appointment letters were placed on sales like a fairly used car at a stand with " buy me" sticker placed on it. These acts of fraud and falsification of certificate called for Verification in 2008.
The verification exercise was presided over by Dr. Olivo, who chaired the committee in the board. Olivo, an incorruptible personality, an honest man with great integrity handled the cleaning exercise but to some extent, he was almost frustrated. The results was released in 2011, that was how proper letters of placement were issued to all the NSCDC officers.
Alteration suddenly sprang up from " oga at the top then" who controlled the affairs of the corps over the successful job done by the Olivo committee in collaboration with the office of the then Minister, and the board. Dr. Olivo in his wisdom, used the certificate at the point of entry where all in inspectorate cadre and men who had bribed their ways in, fell into the category and were prevented again from showing a " red card" out of field.
Olivo again in his widest gift of freedom, used secondary school leaving SSCE certificate , Ordinary National Diploma, Grade 2, submitted at point of entry, mostly of 1988/1994 to 1990 and then were placed at most level 12 then because of the certificate submitted which catapulted to the rank of Deputy Commandant of Corps (DCC) some to ACG and some to ( ACC) after they have acquired their degree in 1998,1999 even up to 2008.
However, those with degree certificate as at 1990,91, 92 upward as point of entry were dramatically overtaken in the new ranking.
Authoritatively, fake certificates are now littering the corps registry ranging from NCE, HND, OND even degree which they (the corps personnel) rob hands of benefactors with purchasing power depending on the rank desire.
Many of the officers and rank of the corps find it difficult to see certificates most of them are holding or that have been issued by the institutions they claim to have graduated. While many with genuine certificate who do not have money to give out as bribe, suffer been stagnated at a position at the expense of fund.
The fraud, corruption and anomalies facing the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps today affected all stratas of the corps, which is calling for quick attention in the interest of the future of the organisation.
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