The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has provided clarification on issues surrounding promotion and salary arrears following reports accusing the current leadership of failing to pay entitlements and withholding welfare funds meant for personnel.
The clarification follows complaints by some officers who alleged that promotion arrears covering the period between 2022 and 2024 had not been paid.
The affected personnel claimed they were still awaiting payments linked to their promotions despite several assurances that the funds had already been released.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the NSCDC spokesperson, Afolabi Babawale, explained that the Commandant General, Abubakar Audi, does not have authority over the payment of salaries or promotion arrears.
He noted that responsibility for such payments lies with the Presidential Committee on Arrears, which is chaired by the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation and the Accountant General of the Federation.
Babawale said the present leadership inherited five years of unpaid salary arrears when it assumed office in 2021 and subsequently worked to facilitate the clearance of arrears from 2015 to 2019, a process that benefitted more than 37,000 personnel.
He stressed that available payment records indicate measurable progress in settling arrears, contradicting claims that no payments had been made since 2022.
The statement partly read, “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 disclosed that arrears for 2023 and 2024 were yet to receive approval from relevant authorities, explaining that payments cannot be made without presidential approval and the release of funds through the national budget.
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 NSCDC spokesperson appealed to officers and personnel across the country to remain calm and patient, assuring them that the leadership continues to engage relevant government agencies to ensure the eventual release and disbursement of outstanding funds.
What you should know
The NSCDC says allegations of unpaid promotion arrears and withheld welfare funds are unfounded, stressing that the Commandant General does not oversee such payments.
According to the Corps, salary and promotion arrears are handled by a presidential committee involving key federal financial authorities. The current leadership claims it inherited long-standing arrears and has already cleared payments covering 2015 to 2019 for over 37,000 personnel.
While arrears for 2023 and 2024 remain unpaid, the Corps says this is due to pending presidential approval and budgetary release, with processing for recent promotions still ongoing.
