Authorities of the NSCDC had complained that the 2020 budgetary
provision for the corps could only accommodate 5,000 new employees as
against the 10,000 earlier proposed by the government.
Nigeria's federal lawmakers in the Senate have insisted that the
proposed recruitment of 10,000 Nigerians into the Nigeria Security and
Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) would go on despite limited funds.
Authorities of the NSCDC had complained that the 2020 budgetary
provision for the corps could only accommodate 5,000 new employees as
against the 10,000 earlier proposed by the government.
Despite its complaint to the National Assembly joint committee on
interior, during the corps’ budget defence session held on Monday in
Abuja.
However, the chairman of the committee, Senator Kassim Shettima, said,
"The only way we can come in is to see how we can tinker with their
budget to see that 10,000 Nigerians are actually employed."
Shettima, commending the NSCDC, added, "The civil defence complements
the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force and other sister security
agencies. I was opportune to govern a state and I can assure you that
the civil defence in Borno State is giving the police a run for their
money."
According to the NSCDC, approval was given by the government to
recruit 10,000 Nigerians into the corps but 2.5 million applications
were received from young Nigerians.
The corps further stated that only 1.5 million of the applicants are
eligible for the recruitment to fill the 10,000 slots.
Commandant General of the NSCDC, Abdul Gana Mohammed, also confirmed
that only 1,000 slots are available for the officers cadre of the
recruitment, while the remaining slots are for the rank and file.