President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 5,000 new correctional officers to address the overcrowding crisis and revamp the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS).
The announcement was made by Mr. Sylvester Nwakuche Ndidi, Acting Comptroller General of the NCS, during a session with the House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions, chaired by Hon. Chinedu Ogar.
Ndidi disclosed that the approval, initially granted in August 2024, had been delayed due to funding constraints.
He, however, said the recruitment process is now set to proceed, with budgetary provisions included in the 2025 fiscal year and pending final approval from the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB).
While speaking on the development, Hon. Victor Ogene, a committee member from Anambra, emphasized the importance of transparency in the recruitment process and called for swift action.
“This process should be transparent and timely to address the pressing need in our correctional facilities,” Ogene stressed.
Ndidi outlined the NCS’s proposed 2025 budget of ₦183.6 billion, including ₦127 billion for personnel costs, ₦45.8 billion for overheads, and ₦13.4 billion for capital expenditures.
He further stated that ₦38 billion is designated for feeding the nation’s 91,100 inmates, translating to a daily cost of ₦1,125 per person.
He also detailed modernization plans to improve the country’s correctional facilities, including advanced security systems, biometric scanners, CCTV surveillance, and enhanced training for personnel.
According to him, the NCS will upgrade its seven training institutions to align with modern ICT standards.
“With President Tinubu’s directive and the necessary financial backing, this marks a significant turning point for Nigeria’s correctional system. The recruitment and modernization efforts aim to create a safer, more efficient environment for inmates and staff alike,” Ndidi concluded.
