NSCDC (Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps) is a paramilitary body of the Federal Government. It was founded to provide protection and crisis resolution as well as security for public infrastructures.
Ranks and symbols
The ranks of NSCDC has Corps Assistant III as the lowest and Commandant General as the topmost position. The Commandant General is the head of the corps and commands and policies flow from there. The first Commandant General of NSCDC was Abiola Atunramu. He ruled from 2004 to 2005.
The ranks and symbols of NSCDC are:
(A) Commandant cadre
Commandant General
Deputy Commandant General
Assistant Commandant General
Commandant
Deputy Commandant
Assistant Commandant
(B) Superintendent cadre
Senior Superintendent
Chief Superintendent
Superintendent
Deputy Superintendent
Assistant Superintendent I
Assistant Superintendent II
(C) Inspector cadre
Chief Inspector
Deputy Chief Inspector
Assistant Chief Inspector
Principal Inspector
Senior Inspector
Inspector
Assistant Inspector
(D) Assistant cadre
Corps Assistant I
Corps Assistant II
Corps Assistant III
NSCDC
NSCDC was first formed in May 1967 during the Nigerian Civil War within Lagos, the then Federal Capital Territory, for the purpose of sensitization and protection of the civilians. It was then known as Lagos Civil Defence Committee.
In 1970 it was reshaped to the current NSCDC. The Corps had the objective of carrying out educational and enlightenment campaigns in the Federal Capital of Lagos to sensitize civilians on enemy attacks and how to save themselves from danger as many Nigerians then had little knowledge about war and its implications. Members of the Committee deemed it important to educate through tv, radio, newspapers and pamphlets on how to guide themselves during enemy attacks like bombardment, how to identify bombs and dive into trenches during bomb blast.
In 1984, the Corps was reformed as a federal security outfit. In 1988, a major re-structuring of the Corps occurred and led to the establishment of Commands throughout the Federation, including Abuja, and the addition of functions to it.
On 28 June 2003, an act to give statutory backing to the NSCDC passed by the National Assembly. The act was amended in 2007 to enhance the statutory duties of the corp.
For the purpose of efficiently carrying out the functions set out in section 3 of the Principal Act, the Corps shall maintain an armed squad which shall be entitled to bear fire arms and deployed by the office of the Commandant General.
NSCDC is empowered to take legal actions against person(s) suspected to have committed an offence, maintain an armed squad in order to bear fire arms among others to strengthen the corps in the discharge of its statutory duties.
