THERE is a growing disquiet among officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) over the failure of the authorities of the Corps to implement the directive by the Federal Ministry of Interior to all para-military outfits under its supervision to remove the dichotomy between HND and BSc holders in their services, ICIR can authoritatively report.

Abubakar Magaji, then Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, on July 13 2017 issued a statement announcing the removal of the dichotomy between holders of university degrees and Higher National Diploma (HND) in all the services.

According to the statement, Magaji said “the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Board (CDFIPB), at the end of its meeting held on Tuesday, July 11 2017, under the chairmanship of the Minister of Interior, Lt Gen. (Rtd) Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, approved the regularization of the dichotomy between holders of university degrees and Higher National Diploma (HND) in all the Services.

“To this end, the Board directed that all officers with HND to be upgraded to COMPASS 08, which is the salary Grade Level for holders of Degree certificates at entry point. While the nomenclature for the HND holders will start with the Rank of Senior Inspector, the Degree holders are with the rank of Assistant Superintendent II.”

Also, in March 2018, Winifred Oyo-Ita, Head of Service of the Federation issued a circular directing all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies to remove the dichotomy between HND and BSc holders.

The circular dated March 26, 2018, conveyed the decision of the National Council on Establishment (NCE) to all concerned and solicited their support through its implementation.

According to the circular, NCE approved entry point of Service Grade Level (SGL) 08 for Higher National Diploma (HND) holders in the civil service. It also encouraged serving HND officers to fulfill all specified conditions as contained in the scheme of service and extant rules for career progression beyond SGL 14.

DISQUIET WITHIN THE CORPS

Investigations by the ICIR however revealed that, while other para-military agencies under the Ministry have since complied with the directive, NSCDC is yet to follow suit.

The affected officers of the Corps who spoke to the ICIR said the non-compliance with the directive is already breeding infighting and indiscipline among officers of different cadres.

An officer of NSCDC who is an HND graduate and a victim of discrimination within the corps said nothing has been implemented about the directive since July last year when the directive was issued.

“When the news broke last year that the dichotomy should be removed, we were happy,” said the officer with the rank of an Inspector who pleaded not to be named because he can be sanctioned for speaking on such matter.

But their joy has faded after waiting for a year and they are still wearing their old ranks and receiving their old salaries.

Since July 2017 when the directive was issued, the ICIR gathered that the management of NSCDC is yet to come up with any official statement on whether or not those affected would be elevated.

READ MORE: https://www.icirnigeria.org/focus-one-year-after-nscdc-ignores-directive-on-hnd-bsc-dichotomy/

HND will be on senior inspector while Bsc assistant superintendent.

I don't understand.