The State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ebonyi Command, Mr Francis Nnadi has warned officers and men of the corps to shun acts considered unethical that could tarnish the image of the corps.
Nnadi gave the charge while declaring open an in-house capacity building training for the officers and men of the Ebonyi command at the command’s headquarters along Abakaliki/Enugu highway on Wednesday in Abakaliki.
Nnadi who said that the training was in line with the directive of the Commandant – General, Dr Ahmed Audi urged participants to always uphold and maintain professional integrity and excellence at all times while discharging their official duties.
He warned that any personnel who engaged in act or behaviour that violated the operational code of conduct of the corps would be dealt with including summary dismissal.
He therefore cautioned the personnel against soiling their hands while in service stressing that actions had consequences.
Nnadi tasked the participants to avail themselves of the opportunity to upscale their skills and reiterated that the job was so demanding that complacency would not be tolerated.
“You don’t give what you don’t have, commensurate skill on the job will boost the morale of the workforce and make for greater productivity,” Nnadi said.
The commandant also warned officers and men against financial embarrassment that could lead to summary dismissal or any other severe penalty.
He explained that the leadership of the corps had prioritised staff welfare and enjoined them to be wary of how they approached financial institutions for loan facilities.
“Loan facilities are monsters; if you don’t understand it, don’t venture.
“Those who go for facilities should take time to read through the conditionalities as some financial institutions often hoodwink customers with hidden clauses that authorise them to increase interest rates at will without notice.
“Self contentment is a panacea for financial embarrassment as no amount of possessions on earth will be considered to be enough,” he added.
The civil defence boss urged personnel to maintain financial prudence emphasising that lack financial propriety often led officers to engage in unethical practice which could tarnish their career and the image of the service.
“The central theme of the training exercise borders on job racketeering and it’s implications; the essence of this lecture is for us to be wary and take lesson; when you are not psychologically fit, you cannot give your best,” the commandant said.
Meanwhile, the Head of Anti-Fraud Unit of the command, Mr Celestine Nyiam , the deputy commandant harped on the concept of job racketeering/financial fraud and the position of the corps.
He pointed out that any form of financial inducement for a job offer, whether successful or otherwise, amounted to job racketeering.
He listed employment scam; fake job postings, ruse training and/or certification, recruitment fee scam and work- from- home scam among others as examples of job racketeering instances.
The anti-fraud head warned participants to beware of the tell-tale of job racketeering which he described as unsolicited job offers, demands for payment for job offer, poor communication skill, lack of transparency in approach among others.
He charged participants to report any suggestive inducement for fraud or money laundering to the relevant security agencies to take proactive measures and save their necks from legal implications of the crime.
Also speaking, a legal practitioner, Mr Godwin Nwankeoegu, an Assistant superintendent of Corps further highlighted the legal implications of both job racketeering and financial fraud.
“The ultimate penalty for those who run foul of the legal provision on job racketeering and financial fraud is summary dismissal in accordance with the Public Service Rule 73:01,” he said.
