NCoS assures staff of Osun election allowance payment

The Nigerian Correctional Service, Osun State Command, has said it was working hard to ensure that the allowances due to its personnel who were on duty during the Saturday, August 15 Osun governorship poll are paid.

This was contained in a statement signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Joel Oyedokun, obtained in Osogbo, the state capital, on Thursday.

The statement was issued in reaction to an enquiry by The PUNCH regarding the delay in payment of election day allowances for personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Fire Service and the Nigeria Correctional Service, deployed for the governorship poll.

The PUNCH had earlier reported the protest of some security personnel over their unpaid allowances.

Findings also indicated that 300 personnel, largely from the state command of the Correctional Service, were on election duty during the poll.

But the number of personnel deployed by the NIS and Federal Fire Service for the poll could not be immediately ascertained as reliable sources within the two organisations said those on duty were drawn mainly from the state’s commands.

But while reacting, the Public Relations Officer, NSCDC, Babawale Afolabi, explained that the delay was due to the verification of details submitted by the personnel deployed for the poll.

Afolabi, who said the affected personnel have started receiving their money, called on those who were yet to be paid to exercise patience.

Stating the command’s position regarding the delay, Oyedokun assured the affected personnel that their election allowances would be paid in due course.

The statement titled, ‘Re: Delay in payment of election duty allowance to NCoS personnel, Osun State Command,’ further read, “I am directed to inform you that the Controller of Corrections, Osun State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, is working assiduously to ensure that the election duty allowances due to personnel are paid, including the allowances expected from both the Federal Government and the State Government.

“The NCoS authority has also assured personnel that their election allowances would be paid in due course. The command appreciates the patience and understanding of its personnel while the necessary processes are being concluded.”