By Emmanuel Kwada
A growing wave of discontent is sweeping through the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) as nurses and other healthcare professionals within the agency voice their frustration over a systematic transfer from the Consolidated Paramilitary Salary Structure (COMPASS) to the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
The transition, which began in 2023 and peaked with mass transfers in January and February 2025, has sparked poignant complaints and raised serious questions about fairness, policy origins, and the welfare of FRSC staff.
These healthcare workers, originally employed as paramilitary officers and men, are now grappling with a salary disparity that has left them disillusioned.
The difference between COMPASS and CONHESS salaries is nearly equivalent to Nigeria’s national minimum wage of seventy thousand naira
Sources within the corps, who spoke to TGNews on condition of anonymity, revealed that the difference between COMPASS and CONHESS salaries is nearly equivalent to Nigeria’s national minimum wage of seventy thousand naira (N70,000). This gap has fueled resentment among the affected staff, many of whom argue that the shift undermines their paramilitary status and erodes their earning potential.
The root of the unrest lies in the lack of clarity surrounding the policy’s origins. Is this a directive from the federal government, or a unilateral decision by the FRSC leadership? The question remains unanswered, amplifying the frustration of the corps’ healthcare workers.
If we can be moved from COMPASS to CONHESS without consent, why can’t those who prefer COMPASS return to it?
Adding to the confusion, staff willing to transfer from CONHESS back to COMPASS report being denied the option. “If we can be moved from COMPASS to CONHESS without consent, why can’t those who prefer COMPASS return to it?” one anonymous complainant asked. The absence of a clear explanation for this restriction has only deepened the sense of inequity.
Checks by TGNews uncovered further troubling details. The salary differences between CONHESS and COMPASS are not being remitted back to government accounts as expected, raising concerns about transparency. Even more alarming, some senior FRSC officials appear to be unaware of this negative trend, suggesting a disconnect within the agency’s leadership.
This might discourage corps members from being patriotic and giving their best in serving the nation
The complainers warn that the salary disparity could have far-reaching consequences. “This might discourage corps members from being patriotic and giving their best in serving the nation,” one aggrieved staff member lamented.
For an agency tasked with ensuring road safety across Nigeria, such disillusionment among its workforce could undermine its operational effectiveness and public trust.
The healthcare professionals argue that their initial recruitment as paramilitary personnel entitles them to the COMPASS salary structure, which is standard across similar organizations.
Why are we being treated differently now?
“We were employed as paramilitary officers, not just health workers. Why are we being treated differently now?” another staff member questioned. Their plea is simple yet urgent: return their salaries to COMPASS to restore equity and morale.
TGNews made repeated attempts to seek clarification from the FRSC leadership, but efforts to reach the Corps Marshal proved futile, with his line consistently busy. Our correspondent also reached out to the Deputy Corps Marshal (DCM) for Operations, DCM for Education, and DCM for Administration, but received no response. The silence from the top brass has only intensified the perception of neglect among the affected staff.
As the complaints grow louder, the healthcare workers of the FRSC are appealing to the Corps Marshal to address the issue swiftly. They urge a thorough review of the policy and a return to the COMPASS salary structure, aligning their compensation with their paramilitary peers in other agencies. Without intervention, the simmering discontent risks boiling over, potentially impacting the corps’ ability to fulfill its critical mandate.
For now, the FRSC’s healthcare professionals wait anxiously for answers, hoping their voices will pierce through the bureaucratic silence and prompt meaningful change. TGNews will continue to monitor this developing story and provide updates as they emerge.
