Resilient Transformation: Acting Controller-General of Nigerian Correctional Service Charts a Bold Path
In a defining moment for the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), the newly appointed Acting Controller-General (CG), Sylvester N Nwakuche, MFR, mni, outlined a transformative agenda aimed at restoring integrity, enhancing security, and fostering meaningful reform.
Appointed on December 15, 2024, by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the Acting CG emphasized resilience, collaboration, and innovation as cornerstones of the Service’s renewed focus.
Addressing all the Command Officers of the Service during his maiden interactive session, the Acting CG seized the opportunity to unveil his policy thrust and vision for the Service.
A Vision for Reform and Collaboration
The Acting CG, in his address at the interactive session expressed gratitude to President Tinubu and the Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for entrusting him with this crucial role. Acknowledging recent challenges, he stated, “Courage is not formed in the absence of fear, and strength is never formed in the absence of challenges. Strong people fall down, but they don’t stay down. Strong people break, but they don’t stay broken.”
This resilient mindset, he said, underpins the new administration’s commitment to surmounting obstacles and fostering progress.
Key Policy Thrusts
1. Security and National Peace
The Acting CG highlighted the Service’s role in strengthening National Security for peace and prosperity. He emphasized that keeping inmates in secure and humane custody is paramount and non-negotiable. Issues such as escapes, riots, and external attacks—often linked to lapses in vigilance—must not be allowed to recur.
The Acting CG warned of severe consequences for negligence, urging the Command Officers to convey this message to their teams. He noted the Honourable Minister’s assurance of prioritizing the deployment of advanced technology to major custodial centers to bolster security efforts.
2. Addressing Overcrowding
On the issue of the perennial problem of overcrowding in the Service the CG promised to actively engage State Chief Executives to accelerate the trial of the over 90% of state offenders currently in custody. He added that the NCoS will collaborate with the judiciary to promote non-custodial measures and implement early release mechanisms where applicable.
‘Plans are also underway to expedite the construction of proposed ultramodern custodial facilities with a capacity of 3,000 inmates, as well as other centers across the country’, he added.
According to the Acting CG the number of inmates Awaiting Trial in the Nigerian Correction Service as of Monday, January 6, 2025, was 48,932 representing 67% of the total inmate population.
To address this backlog, he promised to work closely with the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Inspector-General of Police, and other prosecuting agencies to expedite the trials of these inmates, particularly those charged with non-bailable offenses such as armed robbery and murder, which account for over 60% of ATPs.
He further charged his audience to engage with their various State Chief Judges, Attorneys-General, and Commissioners of Police to further tackle these pressing challenges.
3. Inmates’ Welfare and Rehabilitation
The Acting CG emphasized the importance of Reforming, rehabilitating and reintegrating inmates back to the society. He said it is at the core of the Service’s mandate.
To further enhance the Service’s performance in this regard he said more classrooms will be built, Vocational Skill Centres upscaled, Public-Private-Partnership initiative fostered to guarantee sustainability.
He charged the Command Officers to give top priorities to the Workshops and Farm Centres under their Commands, noting that these were at the core of the reformation process of inmates.
Appreciating Mr. President for increasing the inmates feeding rate from 750 naira to 1,125 naira per inmate per day, he said he will continue to press for further improvement as it was not yet ‘uhuru’.
4. Juvenile Offender Management
The CG regretted that the management of juvenile offenders in Borstal Institutions has been a source of concern to Nigerians, noting that the institutions were established to recover derailing youths from criminality to the path of propriety, but sad to say that the expected behaviour change in the delinquents has remained elusive.
He promised to undertake a holistic review of the management template, starting with the deployment of qualified staff, infrastructural intervention, and a monitoring framework that will have direct access to his table for report submission aimed at revamping the Juvenile Training Institutions.
5. Infrastructure Development
Noting that the issue of infrastructural decay is another perennial problem in the Service, the CG promised to collectively and frontally confront this monster in multiple ways.
He, however, added that some of the Custodial Facilities are currently experiencing infrastructural upgrade, concrete and reinforced perimeter fences.
6. Data and Statistics Management
Emphasizing the importance of data, the Acting CG frowned at the attitude of some field officers who were in the habit of failing to render timely and accurate statistical returns of the inmates under their jurisdiction.
He then ordered a daily morning and evening briefs of the happenings in the Custodial Centres and Commands to be forwarded to the DCG Operations at the National Headquarters, warning that defaulters will be adequately sanctioned.
‘You are therefore enjoined to comply. I won’t fail to wield the big stick on anyone that contravenes. Equally, capturing of inmates’ biometrics is a MUST’, he concluded.
7. Quarterly Facility Inspections
The CG said regular inspections of custodial facilities will resume immediately to address structural weaknesses and improve operational efficiency.
Weekly searches will also be enforced to maintain security.
8. Staff Welfare
The CG said Staff welfare will be a primary consideration in his administration, pointing out that without the human element technological deployment will suffer setbacks.
He empathized with the staff who presently suffer untold hardship in terms of accommodation as the vast majority live in either unbefitting houses or completely squalid make-shift shelters. He promised to respond by embarking on vigorous barrack rehabilitation and constructing new ones where required.
Also on the staff welfare, he said prompt promotion of qualified personnel and corresponding salary placement will be done without undue delay.
He added that the acute shortage of personnel, which had resulted in staff deployment on 18-hour non-stop duty, will also be addressed by stepping up discussions with relevant authorities for the recruitment of more personnel.
On staff training, he said ‘No less attention shall be given to regular training of staff to equip them with skills to respond adequately to security and offenders’ rehabilitation dynamics. We intend to make our Training Institutions more conducive for courses, while curriculum of activities would soon be reviewed to align with contemporary realities’.
He said that the engagement of seasoned retired Officers of the NCoS to complement the teaching and directing staff resource persons was already ongoing.
9. Discipline and Accountability
The CG warned that his administration will maintain zero tolerance to acts that compromise the sanctity of the Nigerian Correctional Service. While promising fair treatment for all alleged wrongdoings, he said he will ensure that the discipline unit is re-calibrated and empowered to speedily try cases.
‘Any officer found wanting will face the full wrath of the law, no matter whose ox is gored. We won’t allow a few bad eggs to spoil the majority’, he warned.
Call for Collective Effort
The Acting CG’s address concluded with a rallying call to staff, stakeholders, and the public. He urged collective commitment to restoring the pride of the NCoS, stating, “The task of building a functional and humane Correctional System requires the collective efforts of all.”
He also extended appreciation to the Nigerian Correctional Officers’ Wives Association (NICOWA) for their unwavering support and wished the retired CG, Haliru Nababa, a fulfilling retirement.
Conclusion
The Acting Controller-General’s bold and comprehensive agenda signals a new era for the Nigerian Correctional Service. With resilience, innovation, and collaboration as guiding principles, the NCoS is poised to overcome challenges and achieve lasting transformation.
Better days are indeed ahead for the Service and the nation it serves.