Tricycle saga: Media being used to sabotage our efforts – NSCDC

The management of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has said in spite of all its efforts to improve the welfare of its personnel, some media houses are still being coaxed into circulating an ill-conceived story about an independent arrangement of the NSCDC cooperative society.

The Director, Public Relations, NSCDC National Headquarters, Abuja, DCC Olusola Odumosu, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

• BREAKING: Nigerian flights still on hold, says Emirates
• Nigeria now a theatre of death – Dokpesi

Tongues are wagging among officers and men of the NSCDC who have taken exception to the tricycle welfare scheme recently approved by the management of the corps.

They claimed other paramilitary agencies were giving out cars and commissioning mass housing schemes for their personnel.

But the spokesman of the Corps said: “…some media houses are still being coaxed into circulating an ill-conceived story about an independent arrangement of the NSCDC cooperative society to distribute tricycle to interested members with a view to portraying the administration in negative light and also to cast aspersions on the efforts of the Audi-led administration.

“To set records straight, the cooperative society is an independent body whose membership are voluntary and not mandatory.

“The alleged scheme was meant for only interested cooperators and it was introduced by the cooperative society as part of effort towards meeting the welfare needs of its members only and not the generality of personnel which the CG is responsible to, hence, the need to correct this misrepresentation as the Commandant General cannot dictate what cooperative do with their money, but can only counsel them which he has ensured.”

Odumosu said the Commandant-General had appealed for patience and understanding of personnel on matters affecting them, restating his determination and willingness to accommodate complaints on issues affecting all staff irrespective of cadre and treat same based on justice, equality and fairness.

He encouraged anyone with complaints not to hesitate to follow the appropriate channel to forward it.

While appreciating the partnership between the corps and media, he advised practitioners to leverage the existing relationship to seek clarifications on issues relating to the corps and publish same bearing in mind their social responsibility role.