President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 5,000 new personnel to address overcrowding and enhance the operations of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).

The Acting Comptroller General of the Service, Sylvester Nwakuche Ndidi, announced this during a presentation to the House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions, chaired by Hon. Chinedu Ogar.

Ndidi disclosed that while the President granted the approval in August 2024, the recruitment process was delayed due to funding challenges.

He assured lawmakers that the recruitment would commence once the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) approves and funding is allocated in the 2025 budget.

During the hearing, committee members expressed concern over the delay, emphasizing the need to address overcrowding in correctional facilities urgently.

Hon. Victor Ogene called for transparency in the recruitment process, stressing the importance of timely action.
“Some of us have been inquiring for months whether this recruitment is happening behind closed doors. We will not accept such an outcome. This process should be transparent and timely,” Ogene asserted.

Ndidi explained that the lack of financial backing had stalled the recruitment but assured lawmakers that the process would proceed with funding now incorporated into the 2025 fiscal year.

The Acting Comptroller General presented the NCS’s proposed 2025 budget, amounting to N183.6 billion. Key allocations include:

  • Personnel Costs: N127 billion
  • Overhead Costs: N45.8 billion
  • Capital Expenditure: N13.4 billion

He highlighted that a significant portion—N38 billion—was earmarked for feeding the nation’s 91,100 inmates at a daily cost of N1,125 per inmate.

Ndidi raised concerns over a N762 million reduction in capital expenditure and requested an additional N70.4 billion to modernize custodial facilities, enhance security, and digitize inmate management systems.

“To effectively run the service, we need advanced technology, including CCTV surveillance, biometric scanners, body cameras for staff, and state-of-the-art security systems across all correctional centers,” Ndidi stated.

The NCS also plans to upgrade its seven training institutions to modern ICT standards and acquire new operational vehicles and arms for security personnel.

With President Tinubu’s directive and the inclusion of financial provisions in the 2025 budget, the Correctional Service is poised for significant transformation.