NSCDC retirees lament non-payment of pension, gratuity

Retired officers of the Nigeria Association of Retired Civil Defence Officers (NARCDO), have lamented the non-payment of gratuity, pension and other statutory allowances due to its members.

The national president of the association, DCG Ewurum Evans Chidi (rtd), made the complaints during the commissioning of the NARCDO secretariat complex in Abuja on Tuesday.

He added that the retired officers were also facing the challenge of “non-implementation of the proposed conditions of service to retired civil defence officers now languishing under very excruciating harsh economic conditions to the extent that visiting Abuja to transact any business is a problem.”

While calling on the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, to find solutions to the challenges facing the retirees, the national president of NARCDO requested that retired officers be considered for strategic positions in the government, boards and committees just like other security agencies in the country.

• PHOTOS: Tinubu holds meeting with ex-British PM Blair days to inauguration
• Senate Presidency: Ndoma-Egba rejects Akpabio, says it’s South East’s turn

He disclosed that the NARCDO had plans to set up a viable cooperative society that would provide funding for members to expand their activities.

Speaking earlier, the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Abubakar Audi, acknowledged that some retirees of the agency were living in agony.

He said that was why the NARCDO was established to help lift retired officers up, adding that the association would be a mouthpiece for all retirees.

Meanwhile, Aregbesola, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Shuaib Belgore, had earlier commissioned the NSCDC parade ground and some apartments for personnel of the corps.

While commending the Commandant General for his quality leadership, he directed that the new parade ground be used to train personnel of security guards to ensure better security in the country.

Speaking at the occasion, Audi said the remodelled parade ground was in a state of disrepair unbefitting of the standard the Corps had carved for itself.

“You will agree with me that this parade ground is multipurpose but is specially developed to serve the purpose of drills, parades and other training needs of the Corps as we continue to take additional measures aimed at strengthening the capacity of the Corps.

“The Staff Residential Quarters on the other hand is in furtherance of our staff welfare programme aimed at ensuring the provision of shelter towards ameliorating the housing needs of our personnel and capable of further boosting the morale of personnel in an effort to enhance productivity and better performance,” he said.