The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has rejected allegations that its leadership has failed to pay promotion arrears or withheld funds meant for personnel welfare.
The clarification followed complaints by some officers who alleged that promotion arrears from 2022 to 2024 had not been paid, despite assurances that the money had already been released.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the NSCDC spokesman, Afolabi Babawale, explained that the Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, does not oversee the payment of salaries or promotion arrears. He said responsibility for such payments lies with the Presidential Committee on Arrears.
Babawale noted that the committee is chaired by the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation and the Accountant General of the Federation.
He stated that the present leadership inherited five years of unpaid salary arrears when it assumed office in 2021. He added that the Corps worked with relevant government agencies to clear arrears from 2015 to 2019, which benefited more than 37,000 personnel.
According to him, available records show steady progress in the settlement of arrears, contrary to claims that no payments have been made since 2022.
The statement read in part, “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 further explained that arrears for 2023 and 2024 are yet to receive approval from the appropriate authorities. He said payment cannot be made without 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.”
The spokesman urged personnel across the country to remain calm, assuring them that discussions with the government continue to ensure the release of funds for payment once approvals are secured.
