By Isiaka Mustapha
The appointment of Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi as Commandant General of the Nigeria Security & Civil Defence Corps by President Muhammadu Buhari in February this year could not have come at a more appropriate time in the history of NSCDC. As it were, many Nigerians described and applauded the appointment as timely, and a blessing that would help fast track application of both human and managerial resources of NSCDC with a view to taking it to global standard.
On assumption of office, CG Audi conceptualized a workable security strategy that has scaled down incidents of criminality demanding of his office, which includes, adequate surveillance of government properties; speedy and rapid rescue missions for victims of disasters; ensuring adequate supervision and appropriate registration of private guards companies. Others are timely seizure of suspected proceeds of vandalization and
arrest of illegal dealers of petroleum products.
In the wake of multiple threats of attack by miscreants and bandits in different parts of the country, Dr. Audi issued a stern order to the 15 Zonal Commanders of NSCDC not to compromise their statutory responsibilities.
He warned them to up their games to ensure that all Nigerians irrespective of their status and where they come from are secured.
According to him, peace, stability and economic growth of a country can only be achieved if the concern for a secured country becomes the cardinal responsibility of every Nigerian.
Expectedly all may not seem to pull smoothly in such agency with reports of untoward activities as there are incontrovertible evidence to show that the CG’s efforts to halt corrupt practices within the system has certainly incurred the wrath of some NSCDC contractors who are fighting back through threats to his life via phone calls, text messages and voice recorded messages.
But in spite of all these he remained uncowed and ever determined, with the embittered contractors still hell bent in sustaining the old order of ‘’business as usual’’ which had triggered negative impact, especially on the finances and efficient administration of the Corps in the recent past.
Insiders familiar with the ‘zero tolerance for corruption stand’ of the CG, reveal how he has been having a running battle with these agents who do not want to repent from unethical professional conducts, like the legendary looting of the Corps’s treasury and ceaseless phantom and abandoned contracts scam.
As a thorn in the flesh of corrupt contractors and their allies since he assumed duties at NSCDC, which explains why they have embarked on all manner of clandestine moves to get him maligned or removed as NSCDC boss, a case in hand exposed by a recent independent investigation by People’s Security Monitor ,revealed how a prominent contractor to the Corps connived with another business partner and approached Dr. Audi with sole
purpose of luring him into distorting financial system and fiscal policy of the Corps for their selfish gains, which he refused.
Specifically, they wanted the Commandant-General to convert capital vote of the Corps to interventionist funds so as to pave way for them to corner chunk of the contracts under interventionist programme at the expense of the well-being of the generality of the Corps.Audi’s refusal to succumb to the contractors’s pressure would not be taken kindly, and ever since, the disgruntled contractors have launched all manner of blackmail and massive sponsored campaigns aimed at maligning Audi’s integrity and honour.
As a focused and non corrupt manager of men and resources, the NSCDC under his leadership has earned first in all endeavours within this chequered period of time , when a Female Squad, aimed at enhancing security in schools susceptible to kidnappings was established.
The female Squad accordingly is a child of necessity borne out of the need to effectively curtail the recent upsurge of insecurity occasioned by armed banditry and kidnapping, and the need to effectively implement government’s proposed ‘Safe School Initiative’.
The CG assured that the corps would continue to take proactive measures in collaboration with sister agencies to guarantee security for the socio-economic development of the country.
A humane leader that he is, CG Audi places high premium on the welfare of personnel, knowing fully well that to build a virile, dynamic and productive workforce, conscious efforts must be made to motivate the staff towards putting in their best for more dedicated service.
In view of this, the Commandant General has however, assured that he would leave no stone unturned to ensure high welfare packages for officers and men of the corps through a robust and well-structured
plan to increase personnel morale.
It is worthy to note that within eight months of his assumption of leadership of the Corps, the Commandant General has ensured the promotion of officers and men who have remained on same rank for 3 to10 years, in addition to processing the payment of the backlog of promotion arrears of personnel who were to have been paid by the last
administration .
Special promotion, awards and commendation letters to officers who distinguished themselves in line of duty within his 100 days in office were also given. In furtherance to these, Dr Audi also gave out cheques of over two-million-naira (N2M) for Group Personal Accident benefits to personnel who sustained various degrees of injuries in the cause of discharging their duties.
Additionally, over twenty-million-naira (N20m) worth of cheques were distributed as part of payment for Group Life Insurance which is managed by the Head of service.
The Commandant General has also paid over N40 million outstanding burial benefits and entitlements of deceased personnel to 150 families long forgotten before his appointment, while also working assiduously
to pay the backlog of outstanding benefits of about 60 families to the tune of over two hundred million naira (N200m) which has been lingering since 2013.
Ongoing is the second phase of compilation of about 60 Officers and men that sustained injuries in the cause of discharging their duties who will be paid not less than twenty-one million naira N21 million as
Group Personal Accident Benefits. Indeed, this is the Ahmed Abubakar Audi’s Uncommon Strategy.