DICON Denies Alleged Discrimination Against 320 Staff

The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) has denied allegations of selective promotion and persecution of 320 workers for participating in staff protest.

Some members of staff of the corporation had in an online publication alleged that DICON leadership directed the exclusion of certain DICON staff members from the 2024 promotion list due to their participation in a staff protest held in April 2024.

A statement by DICON spokesman Major Haruna Sani said contrary to the allegations the disciplinary and promotion processes within DICON are governed by a standing Senior and Junior Staff Committees composed exclusively of civilians, with no members representing the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

He said DICON being a national asset operates in accordance with the extant Public Service Regulations.

He explained, that the role of the DG and DICON management is often to approve the recommendations made by these committees, based on their objective assessments and considerations.

Major Sani clarified that enrollment in the Integrated Personnel Payroll System (IPPS) falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government, not DICON, as the Federal Government of Nigeria operates both the IPPIS and GIFMIS systems for payment of civil servants’ allowances across the entire country.

“The current DG did not invent these existing systems on assumption of office, but has ensured that allowances due to DICON staff are paid. Thus, any incessant assertions that staff members have not been enrolled into the IPPS reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of the system’s operations and responsibilities”.

He said the allegations of tribalism against the DG, were wholly unfounded. “Currently, all the DG’s personal staff and aides hail from various states across Nigeria, including Oyo, Kebbi, Kogi, and Plateau, with non from Akwa Ibom State. The DG’s last 4 Military Assistants since 2021 have been from Borno, Kwara, Nassarawa, Niger and currently Oyo State,” he said.

Major Sani said the diverse representation indicates a commitment to competence, inclusivity and fairness for which the DG DICON is widely known for.

“Without prejudice to the esteemed professional officers from the DG’s home state. Such mischievous allegations further expose the baseless and desperate nature of the allegations, which seem intended to elicit sympathy while obscuring the real issues at hand.

“It is also critical to highlight that 320 eligible DICON staff were cleared to participate in the exercise, while 46 individuals were excluded from this year’s staff promotion list, being previously subjected to disciplinary actions due to persistent absenteeism and violations of the DICON Act 2023, having been absent themselves for over two weeks without valid justification”.

The spokesman said the staff excluded from the list admitted to have participated in a strike action in the Corporation, “further justifying a reason for their exclusion based on disciplinary grounds.

Moreover, the claim that a fire at the factory on the eve of the 19 March 2023, protest was orchestrated to distract attention from staff grievances is utterly ludicrous. No sensible individual would risk compromising an establishment that employs over 800 people and is fundamental to their own professional stability and success”.

Commenting on the 2019 minimum wage arrears and the 2022/2023 promotion arrears, he said, “these responsibilities lie with the Federal Government. DICON has submitted all necessary documentation to the appropriate departments for consideration and approval. These allegations represent a calculated attempt by malefactors to tarnish the good reputation of DICON and its leadership during a pivotal moment in its efforts to transform DICON into an exemplary model of collaboration within the Military Industrial Complex,”