The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Osun State Command, has assured personnel who were deployed for the August 15 governorship election that their outstanding election duty allowances would be paid.

The assurance was contained in a statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Joel Oyedokun, and obtained in Osogbo on Thursday.

The statement followed enquiries over the delay in payment of election duty allowances for personnel of the NCoS, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and Federal Fire Service who participated in the election.

There were earlier reports of protests by some security personnel over the non-payment of their allowances.

Findings indicated that about 300 personnel, largely drawn from the Osun Command of the NCoS, were deployed for election duties. The exact number of personnel deployed by the NIS and Federal Fire Service could not be immediately ascertained.

Meanwhile, the NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, attributed the delay in payment to the verification of details submitted by personnel deployed for the election.

Afolabi said payment had commenced and urged personnel who were yet to receive their allowances to remain patient.

Similarly, the NCoS said it was working to ensure that all outstanding allowances due to its personnel were paid, including those expected from the Federal and Osun State governments.

The statement titled, ‘Re: Delay in Payment of Election Duty Allowance to NCoS Personnel, Osun State Command,’ read in part:

“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 Command appealed to affected personnel to remain patient and assured them that the necessary processes were being concluded for payment.

“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,” the statement added.