Nigerian Correctional Service
Six months after being appointed acting Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, MFR, mni, has been decorated as the substantive number one man to oversee the Service's affairs from 23rd April 2025 to 27th November 2026.
In a colourful ceremony held at the Conference hall of the Civil Defence, Corrections, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, charged the new Controller General with designing a pattern of leadership that is ready to answer three key questions.
His words, “As you resume, in the next one week, find the answer to these three questions. What is your mandate, focus and target? As CG, you are in charge of officers and men in their thousands as well as inmates in over 256 facilities around the country”.
Tunji-Ojo said that how well the new CG can answer these questions will determine his success at the end of his term. He emphasised the need for Nwakuche to set up a clear mandate and know how to achieve it.
The minister made his expectations known about the new Corrections boss to raise a standard and build a foundation that will serve as a legacy for the upcoming Controller General to emulate.
“The beautiful thing about leadership is that when you write your script, you are never in a position to act it. Others will read and act themselves”, Tunji-Ojo said. He pleaded with CG Nwakuche to build his officers and men in such a way that would make it easier for his successor to do much better.
“To the glory of God and benevolence of Mr President, you are the head of a family called Nigerian Correctional Service today. I plead with you that my expectations are very high. Within the next 19 months, we want stability, focus and a Correctional Service that will be truly correctional.
“Rehabilitating and transforming people, both young and adults, to return to society as better persons. I want a Correctional Centre to be a place where hope is renewed. I want the Correctional Centre to be a place where there will be a new lease of life. I want Nigeria to be one of those countries in the world that will have zero per cent recidivism”, the minister stressed.
Earlier in her welcome remark, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magdaline Ajani, commended the ministry for the landmark achievements of appointing Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche as the new Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service. She assured the new CG that the Ministry of Interior is ever ready to support the Service in achieving its mandates.
On his part, the Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, who was filled with gratitude, thanked the president and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for appointing him to lead the Nigerian Correctional Service. He also appreciated the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for making the appointment a reality.
Nwakuche stated further that he will ensure a leadership that delivers results in the area of security, decongestion of high numbers of inmates in custodial facilities, capacity building for personnel, improved standard of welfare for inmates, revitalise Borstal Institutions and improve synergy with all interested partners.
