President Tinubu Approves Recruitment of 5,000 Personnel for Correctional Service

By Oluwakemi Kindness

President Bola Tinubu has given directive for the recruitment of five thousand new personnel into the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS),

The move which seeks to address the overcrowding crisis and strengthen the Service was announced on Wednesday the Acting Comptroller General of the NCS, Sylvester Nwakuche Ndidi.

Speaking when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions, led by Chinedu Ogar, Ndidi explained that although the approval for the recruitment had been granted by the president in August 2024, the process had been delayed.

He attributed the delay to a shortfall in funding, which had hampered the ability to meet the salary and allowance requirements for the new recruits.

The Acting Comptroller General also voiced concerns overreduction in capital expenditure, which was slashed by N762 million, and called for an additional N70.4 billion in funding.

He stressed that the extra allocation would be used to modernize custodial facilities, enhance security, and digitize inmate management.

“To ensure the effective running of the service, we need advanced technology in our facilities. This includes CCTV surveillance, biometric scanners, body cameras for our staff, and state-of-the-art security systems across all correctional centers,” Ndidi explained.

The NCS’s modernization plans also include upgrading its seven training institutions to meet modern ICT standards and purchasing new operational vehicles and arms for security personnel. The service aims to foster a safer, more efficient environment for both inmates and staff.

Members of the committee, expressed their concerns about the ongoing delay, emphasizing the critical need for the recruitment to address the persistent overcrowding in correctional facilities across the country.

They urged the NCS to work more closely with the committee to ensure the swift implementation of the recruitment.

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