WHAT IS THE FULL MEANING OF NSCDC?

The full meaning of NSCDC is Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

NSCDC LOGO.

The Nigerian security and civil defence logo is a two-circle emblem with the words Civil Defence on the outer circle. In the middle of the logo is an image of an eagle on top of a shape with images of an axe, an eye, and a space. Below the items are the words ‘Defending the Defenceless.’ The logo has a close resemblance with the country’s Coat of Arms. The colours available on the logo are white, black red and green.

HISTORY OF NSCDC.

NSCDC is a para-military agency of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that is tasked with providing protection against threats, attacks, and disasters that could harm the country and its people. The corps is statutorily empowered by lay Act No. 2 of 2003 and amended by Act 6 of 4th June 2007.

The Corps is empowered to institute legal proceedings by or in then and of the Attorney General of the Federation in accordance with the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria against any person or persons suspected of having committed an offense, to maintain an armed squad to carry weapons, among other things to strengthen the corps in the discharge of its statutory duties

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps was initially introduced in May 1967 during the Nigerian Civil War within the then Federal Capital Territory of Lagos for the purpose of sensitization and protection of the civil populace. It was then known as Lagos Civil Defence Committee.

It later metamorphosed into the present day Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in 1970. On inception, the Corps had the objective of carrying out some educational and enlightenment campaigns in and around the Federal Capital of Lagos to sensitize members of the civil populace on enemy attacks and how to save themselves from danger as most Nigerians living in and around Lagos territory then had little or no knowledge about war and its implications.

Members of the Committee deemed it important to educate through electronic and print media on how to guide themselves during air raids, bomb attacks, identify bombs and how to dive into trenches during bomb blast.

In 1984, the Corps was transformed into a National security outfit and in 1988, there was a major re-structuring of the Corps that led to the establishment of Commands throughout the Federation, including Abuja, and the addition of special functions by the Federal Government.

On 28th June 2003, an Act to give statutory backing to the NSCDC passed by the National Assembly was signed into law by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, the former president and Commander in chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

READ ALSO: The Nigerian Army Logo, Components And Their Meaning

ROLES OF NSCDC.

Some of the constitutional roles of NSCDC as contained in the establishing Act (as amended) are to:

1. Assist in the maintenance of peace and order and in the protection andrescuing of the civil population during periods of emergency.

2. Recommend to the minister the registration of private guard companies.

3. From time to time, inspect the premises of private guard companies, theirtraining facilities and approve the same if it is up to standard.

4. Supervise and monitor the activities of all private guard companies and keepa register for that purpose:

(a) Periodically, organise workshops and training courses for private guardcompanies. (b) Seal up any private guard company which operates without a valid licence.

5. Maintain 24-hour surveillance over infrastructures, site and projects for thefederal, state and local governments:

(a) Enter and search any premises and seize any material suspected to have beenused in vandalisation or the suspected process of vandalisation. (b) Enter and search premises of any suspected illegal dealer in petroleum products or material used by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, postalservices, Nigeria telecommunications or for any other public utility orinfrastructure.

6. Have power to arrest with or without a warrant, detain, investigate andinstitute legal proceedings by or in the name of the attorney general of theFederal Republic of Nigeria against any person who is reasonably suspected tohave committed an offence under the Act or is involved in any:

(a) Criminal activity. (b) Chemical poison or oil spillage, nuclear waste and poisoning. (c) Industry espionage or fraud (d) Activity aimed at frustrating any government programme or policy. (e) Riot, civil disorder, revolt, strike or religious unrest. (f ) Power transmission line, or oil pipelines, Nigerian Postal Service(NIPOST) cables, equipment, water board pipes or equipmentvandalisation.

7. Monitor the activities of religious bodies and trade associations.

8. Monitor, investigate and take every necessary step to forestall any planned act of terrorism, particularly:

(a) Cult and ethnic militia activities. (b) Criminal activities aimed at depriving citizens of their properties or lives. (c) Syndicate activity aimed at defrauding the federal state or local governments.

9. Monitor, investigate and take every necessary step to forestall any act of terrorism and report the same to the appropriate federal security agency.

10. Provide necessary warning for the civilian population in times of danger.

11. Evacuate the civilian population from danger areas.

12. Provide and manage shelters for civilians during period of emergency.

13. Assist in the decontamination and in the taking of precautionary measures during any period of emergency.

14. Carry out rescue operations and control volatile situations.

15. Assist in the provision of emergency medical services, including first aid, during any period of emergency.

16. Detect and demarcate any danger area.

17. Assist the federal and state fire services in fire-fighting operations.

18. Assist in the distribution of emergency supplies.

19. Provide assistance to restore and maintain order in distressed areas in any period of emergency.

20. Assist in repairing indispensable public utilities during any period of emergency.

21. Provide intelligence information to the military on any matter relating to:

(a) Crime control generally. (b) Riot, disorder, revolt, strike or religious unrest. (c) Subversive activity by members of the public aimed at frustrating any government programme or policy. (d) Industrial action and strike aimed at paralysing government activities. (e) Any other matter as may be directed by the minister. (f) Have power to arrange and mediate in the settlement of disputes among willing members of the public.

MISSION AND VISION OF NSCDC

Below are the mission, vision and focus of the NSCDC as stated on their official website;

MISSION:

Developing structures and training strategies that would contribute to the national security by using modern technology.

VISION:

To put to work efficiency, humility and integrity in service delivery with a fresh zeal; bring credibility into concept of security.

FOCUS:

Our focus shall be in the area of broad based information networking monitoring of movement.

THE PRESENT COMMANDANT GENERAL (CG) OF THE NSCDC.

The present Commander General of the NSCDC is Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni.

Dr. Audi was born into the family of Suleiman Audi, an Islamic Clergy in Laminga Town of Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State on 30th September 1967.

He was appointed CG after Abdullahi Gana retired in February 2021.

Until his appointment as the Commandant General, Dr. Audi had served as Zonal Commander, NSCDC Zone ‘C’ Headquarters, Bauchi, in charge of North-East States. Dr. Audi is a member and Fellow of prestigious professional bodies notable amongst them are: Member, National Institute (mni), having attended Senior Executive Course 38 in NIPSS, Kuru, Jos, 2016; Fellow, Institute of Security and Forensic Studies, Nigeria.

Read more about the present NSCDC CG HERE.

NSCDC TRAINING.

After being drafted or being recruited into service, the newly recruited NSCDC is expected to undergo basic mandatory training before proceeding for career courses. The training is a pre-planned programme coordinated from the National Headquarters.

The harmonized basic training is expected to progress simultaneously for three months in different locations across the country where they will be exposed to regimental orientation and the mandates of the Corps. Thereafter, they will proceed in batches for more training at the various training colleges of the Corps.

NSCDC STRUCTURE.

Take a peek at the NSCDC’s structure in the ranking chart below. Positions at the NSCDC are determined by a person’s qualifications, and there is a clear chain of command. Here is a glance at the NSCDC’s ranks and posts in order of highest to lowest authority.

NSCDC RANKS.

HOW MUCH IS NSCDC MONTHLY SALARY?

How much is an NSCDC personnel paid on a monthly basis? The pay an officer receives while working for the Nigerian Civil Defence is based on their rank and educational background. For instance, those with a Higher National Diploma are ranked at level 7, those with a Bachelor’s Degree at level 8, and those with a Master’s Degree at level 9.

The progression of a person’s rank is additionally based on their number of years of service. The civil defense pay scale is established by the Consolidated Paramilitary Salary Structure (CONPASS). All salaries paid to NSCDC staff members are paid in Nigerian Naira (₦).

Here is a peek at what civil defense officers are being paid as at 2022. The numbers show the range of annual salaries.

NSCDC FEMALE SQUAD.

When he assumed office in February 2021, the NSCDC Commandant-General, Mr Ahmed Audi had said the establishment of a special female squad was one of the many strategies he intends to use to reposition, re-jig, revamp and rejuvenate the corps to a world-class organisation.

Audi said the female Squad was a child of necessity borne out of the need to effectively curtail the upsurge of insecurity occasioned by armed banditry, kidnapping, insurgency and the need to effectively implement government’s proposed Safe School Initiative.

Before selection, the women are expected to go through three weeks intensive and rigorous training as well as capacity building programmes to make them combat ready. They would also be trained for physical and tactical manoeuvring, especially for special intervention and operations which will in no small measure help to address some of security challenges facing the nation.

Source of Information: Official Website of The Nigerian Civil Defense.