Tag: NCoS

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) yesterday said no fewer than 3,413 inmates are on death row in various custodial centres across the country.

According to the Service Public Relations Officer,  Abubakar Umar, the total number of inmates in the centres stood at 77,849 comprising 76,081 males and 1,768 females as at Monday, 18th of December, this year.

Umar, who spoke with select newsmen at the Service Headquarters in Abuja on behalf of the Controller-General, Alhaji Haliru Nababa, said there were no recorded accounts of external aggressions and attacks on their facilities this year, attributing the development to deployment of surveillance and monitoring gadgets.

He put the total number of awaiting trial inmates at 53,836, comprising 52,512 male and 1,324 female.

“It could be observed that the number of Awaiting Trial Persons (ATP) in custody constitutes 69 percent of the total inmate population.

“The high number of ATP is a phenomenon that is challenging for the Service. However, the Service is working towards alleviating this conundrum and providing judicial guarantees for them,” Umar said.

He revealed that a total of 1,308 inmates were those sentenced to life imprisonment, adding that of the 3,413 inmates on death row, 3,341 of the persons are male while the remaining 72 are female.

“Also, we have not recorded any form of internal insurrection from within our facilities. This result is largely attributed to adequate provision of the basic needs and necessities of inmates, as well as the proactive efforts of the Service through the deployment of technology in surveillance and logistical provisions for rapid response in and around custodial facilities,” he stated.

Umar said the Service explored interagency synergy in building security in and around Custodial Centres in Nigeria, which he noted, had yielded positive results.

He said due to the proactive initiative and support of the Minister for Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Service was able to trim down the numbers of inmates in the custodial centres, following the release of 4,086 inmates who had options of fine and compensation.

Umar said: “This year also, we are able to improve on the treatment regime for inmates in the areas of reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration.

Read Also: NCoS promotes 5,004 personnel

“Suffice it to mention that a total of 1,840 inmates sat for the 2023 NECO/SSCE, while many others are undergoing various academic programmes in Custodial Centres nationwide.

“As you are aware, our partnership with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) is yielding pragmatic result, as many inmates are undergoing various degree programmes, including doctorate degrees, in custody.

“In terms of staff welfare, we are committed towards improving the wellbeing of personnel, as they are invaluable in achieving Service mandates.

“In addition to providing more barracks and office accommodation, we succeeded in the massive promotion of staff this year. In 2023 alone, we were able to promote more than 20,000 officers and men.

“Only yesterday (Thursday), we decorated a total of 5,014 personnel who were recently promoted, in addition to the 17,693 who were elevated earlier in the year.

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has announced the promotion of 5,004 personnel cutting across all cadres and ranks within the service.

The public relations officer of the service, Abubakar Umar who announced in a statement, said it was carried out based on those who participated in the 2023 promotion exercise.

According to him, the promotion exercise was conducted by the Civil Defence Corrections Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB).

He explained that an internal message for the NCoS dated 8th December 2023 showed that seven (7) Controllers of Corrections (CC) were elevated to the rank of Assistant Controller General of Corrections (ACG).

Also, thirty-five (35) Deputy Controllers of Corrections (DCC) were promoted to Controller of Corrections (CC).

Read Also: NCoS spends more to feed dogs than inmates, says CG

Umar said: “Others promoted to new ranks include 68 Deputy Controllers of Corrections, 129 Assistant Controllers of Corrections (ACCs), 426 Chief Superintendents of Corrections (CSCs), 650 Superintendents of Corrections (SCs), and 1048 Deputy Superintendents of Corrections (DSCs).”

He explained that 2641 Assistant Superintendents of Corrections (ASCs) among whom are those qualified for upgrading and omitted from advancement.

According to him the Controller General of Corrections (CGC), Haliru Nababa, charged the beneficiaries to get ready for more work knowing fully well that promotion comes with additional responsibility.

“The CGC admonished the newly promoted officers to brace up for the tasks ahead.

“He encouraged those that missed the promotion to remain steadfast as more opportunities abound in the future.”

• Senate threatens to step down service’s budget over insufficient information

The Controller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), Alhaji Haliru Nababa, has said the service spends N800 daily to feed a security dog while N750 is expended daily to feed an inmate.

Nababa said this while responding to a question from the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, Adams Oshiomhole, during the service’s budget defence at the National Assembly yesterday in Abuja.

“We feed each inmate with N750 daily and they are fed three times daily (N250 for each square meal).

“We have 900 security dogs and to feed a dog each day we spend N800,” he said.

The NCS boss said the service had 81,358 inmates nationwide with 53,362 of them inmates awaiting trial.

Oshiomhole threatened to step down the consideration on the 2024 budget of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) over insufficient information.

The committee chairman said he was unhappy with the services that NCoS was rendering to inmates.

“Your organisation has transformed from Nigeria Prison Service to Nigerian Correctional Service, but you have yet to change in your attitudes toward inmates.

Read Also: NCoS begs NASS to approve more money to feed inmates

“It’s not just your fault, because the government appropriates little money for you. It is either you don’t feed the inmates or you feed them only once. Even at that, it’s with very miserable food.

“This is why they have completely emaciated and some can never live a decent life again, even when they did not commit an offence.

“You all know the price of food items in the market. So, how can you look us in the eye and tell us that you feed a man in Nigeria with N750 a day? How much is a bottle of water?” he queried.

The Edo North senator said his committee would not be in a haste to approve any budget for the service until it received satisfactory answers.

He requested for a breakdown of the number of inmates and security dogs at the correctional centres and how they were fed daily.

“I would like to see a breakdown of how you feed the inmates. If you say you feed inmates three times a day with N250 each, how many dogs do you have and how much does it cost to feed them daily?” Oshiomhole queried.

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has dismissed two of its personnel and sanctioned 35 others for alleged misconduct and acts inimical to their calls of duty.

Its Public Relations Officer (PRO) Umar Abubakar said the personnel’s behaviour constituted a threat to the security of the organisation.

Read Also: Correctional Service dismisses two, sanctions 35 others for misconduct

In a statement yesterday in Abuja, the NCoS spokesman explained that the dismissal was part of efforts to ensure discipline of its personnel and entrench international correctional best practices.