MEASURING THE STANDANDS

OF OPERATION FOR PRIVATE

GUARD COMPANIES IN
NIGERIA:
THE PGC ACT, 1986 AS A TOOL
BY
DCC. CHINEDU F. IGBO
Head of PGC ADMIN UNIT, NHQ
 BACKGROUND
• The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Act (2003, as amended
in 2007) among other responsibilities empowers the Nigeria
Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) through its private
guard companies (PGC) department To:
• Recommend to the Hon. Minister the Registration of PGCs.
• Inspect the premises of PGCs and training facilities and approve
same if it is up to standard.
• Supervise, and monitor the activities of PGCs and keep a
register for that purpose
• Periodically organize workshop and training for Private Guard
Companies.
BACKGROUND CONT.
• Seal up any PGC that operate without valid licence.
 Providing security is a complex work and companies saddled with
this task must operate within a national frame work and with a valid
licence, hence the need for an Act to regulate and provide for the
licensing of PGCs which must be wholly owned by Nigerians; that is
the Private Guard Companies Act 1986 No. 23.
 The objectives of the Act is to provide a legal framework for
effective regulation of PGCs and to create an enabling environment
for PGCs to assist and partner with the regulatory Authority in
achieving its mandate of protection of lives and proprieties by
securing the society and economic activities.
BACKGROUND CONT.
 NSCDC also enforces PGC Regulation 2018 which provides sanctions
to ensure appropriate enforcement and compliance with its provisions
by the Private Guard Companies in Nigeria.
 The measures stipulated by the PGC Act 1986, the regulation 2018
and standard operating procedures which are enforced during
monitoring and supervision by the NSCDC to checkmate PGCs are
the focal points of this lecture and are discussed below.
 LICENSING OF PGCS
 Persons or Organisations must apply for and be granted PGC licence
by the Hon. Minister of Interior through the licensing authority
(NSCDC). Activities include watching, guarding, patrolling, for the
purpose of providing protection against crime.
 NSCDC is the only Agency Empowered by the 1986 Act and PGC
Regulation 2018 to oversee the above activities of PGC in Nigeria.
 PGCs are empowered to employ personnel to perform security
services. Licence may be revoked or suspended if the Minister or
Licensing Authority finds the company unsuitable; the following can
lead to revocation;
 LICESING OF PGCS cont.
 If ownership has been transferred to another organization,
 Failure to carryout security operation effectively
 Involvement in any form of illegality
 If any of the directors have been convicted of any criminal offense
 If Found to use fire arms
 Unapproved uniforms and accoutrements
 Other acts that may be deemed inappropriate.
For replacement of lost or mutilated licence, the company may
apply for a CTC of the duplicate from the licensing authority at a
prescribed fee.
 LICESING OF PGCS cont.
 No company shall operate without a registered address. Notice
shall be given in case of change of address, new location or branch
office, fees apply.
No guard shall be posted to field work except the guard has been
trained by the regulating authority or other institutions whose
curriculum has been accredited to provide security training.
A guard who is posted for duty must be properly dressed in the
uniform approved for the company.
 The company shall maintain the data base and biometrics of all
guards under its employment and submit same to the licensing
authority each year during renewal.
LICESING OF PGCS cont.
 Upon employment, the company shall issue appointment letters and
ID card bearing the passport photograph and personal details of the
guard and shall issue letter of termination in line with the conditions
of service signed by the guards.

WELFARE: SALARIES/REMUNERATION
Companies shall pay salaries and allowances of guards for the period of
time they worked. Minimum wage shall be 60% of contract sum or
national minimum wage which ever is higher and must be paid at the
end of every month especially when the client has paid the company for
its services. NHIS, Pension and other welfare packages shall be
considered.
• The Licensing authority shall supply armed squad to companies for
its operations when necessary.
• Companies shall when necessary use amber lights for its operations.
• Every company shall have an office with adequate facilities, toilet,
communication room with functional communication gadgets,
reception, operational vehicles for effective monitoring.
• Companies shall submit monthly report of their activities to the
nearest office of the licensing authority (NSCDC) and constantly
share intelligence with NSCDC.
• As the grass root tier of the National Security architecture, PGCs are
seen as a force multiplier for State Security Agencies. Adequate
information and intelligence must be shared to create the needed
awareness in the society about the nature and the importance of
private security services and their relationship with public security.
• Any company that wish to go out of business for a period of time
will give notice and the licence shall be domiciled with the licensing
authority for a maximum period of five years or face the risk
revocation for failure to give any notice.
CONTROL AND ADMINISTRATION
• The following offences shall attract administrative sanctions for
companies or guards:
 Constituting an obstruction for the officials of NSCDC in carrying
out their monitoring and supervision duties.
 Engaging in Unionism
 Sexual harassment, exploitation and gender based violence,
prostitution and rape.
 Engaging the services of persons below 18 years of age.
 Tampering with the seal where a company has been sealed for
offence
 Any company whose office has been sealed will pay a fine of
N100,000 to the regulatory authority for the unsealing of its office.
Miscellaneous offense that may lead to sealing of a PGC
 No company or its employee shall at any time perform the
duties of the Military, Police or paramilitary services.
 No guard should be tortured by the company or engage in
torturing or any inhumane treatment of any citizen in the course
of performing their duties. Use of force should be discouraged.
 Any person or organization wishing to employ more than one
person for the purpose of security should engage the services
of a licensed company.
Miscellaneous offense cont.
• License, incorporation certificate, and other operational documents
not displayed at the reception in a conspicuous manner.
• Failure to renew licence after payment, note that payment is not
renewal.
• Non payment of staff salaries
• Unhealthy office environment (one room)
• Opening of branch office or relocation of head office without notice
and payment of the require fee.
Miscellaneous offence Fees
• The following fees apply;
• 1.Relocation of Head Office Inter State = N100,000
• 2.Change of office address intra state = N20,000
• 3.Branch office (Opening) = N30,000

• Note that sealing of a company attracts N100,000 unsealing fee

REQUIREMENT FOR RENEWAL OF LICENCE
(BASE LINE)
1.Application for renewal of licence
2.Last copy of licence
3.Annual performance report including client list and addresses
4.Statement of audited account
5.Staff list with PSID (Personal Staff Identity Number)
6.Current tax certificate
7.Evidence of payment for renewal Remita Retrival Reference, teller,
treasury receipt
8.Monitoring report from state command (Head Quarter office of the
company)
REQUIREMENT FOR RENEWAL OF LICENCE
(BASE LINE) cont.
9. Clearance from ALPSPN
10.Evidence of payment of State Dues to ALPSPN
11.Evidence of payment of National Dues to ALPSPN
• Payment of renewal for Category A = N200,000
• Payment of renewal for category B = N100,000
• Late payment attracts = N150,000
 CONCLUSION

The legislation require that the PGCs on regular basis report to the
regulating authority on personnel data, equipment and incidents. The
PGCs should note that in the course of performing their duties of
watching, guarding, patrolling and other Private security activities,
consistent partnership with NSCDC will enhance the overall purpose
of protection against crime and hence justify regard for National
security and public interest.

THANK YOU