Holds annual general meeting
Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, (NCoS), Haliru Nababa, has assured all retiring staff of the organization of accessing their full benefits at retirement under the Correctional Service Multi-purpose Coorporative Society, (COCOS).
He stated this at the 27th Annual General Meeting, (AGM), of the cooperative, weekend in Abuja.
He said that “In the recent past, COCOS like all well-meaning multipurpose cooperative societies, has continued to churn out assorted activities, ranging from credit regimes, commodity distribution, service delivery, etc for the economic and social development of members.
“If nothing, the fact that personnel when duly retired, get their accrued benefits within a maximum period of 3 (three) months is quite remarkable. Furthermore, the staff housing project which is ongoing gradually and steadily, presents very bright prospects for a lot more beneficiaries.”
Noting that staff welfare remains a priority in his administration, Nababa said “With a considerable number of sustained staff welfare packages, through COCOS and its subsidiaries, Correctional Welfare Insurance Scheme, (CWIS), as well as other regular and special Service interventions, I believe that majority will attest to the fact that I have kept to my word.
“However, given the state of the Nigerian economy and the attendant high cost of living, we have an urgent demand to think outside the box and come up with measures that will help bridge the prevailing economic gaps for our personnel.
“Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) through the activities of COCOS has given a very good account of itself by way of addressing the basic welfare concerns of staff. Indeed, COCOS has remained one of the golden achievements of the Service. From a paltry deduction of ₦2:00 only, per staff in 1988, COCOS has today grown to be a phenomenal reference point for other organizations”
General Manager, (GM), COCOS, ACG Lydia Abraham, said that the cooperative has so far the cooperative has introduced and delivered housing scheme projects for staff at a very flexible repayment periods of up to 15 years depending on the number of years a staff has left in service.
According to her, ” We’ve put down measures to ensure our personnel are doing well by coming into agreements with our three microfinance banks to provide them affordable food and loans.
“People need where to put their heads or when they are in service so we are expanding our housing welfare packages to make sure that before and after retirement, our staff have where to rest their heads.
“Our first estate ever located in Kuje has about 119 plots and they are fully subscribed as of December 2023. We expanded the payment period to 15 years and it is only when you don’t have up to 15 years in Service that we have to rearrange the payment schedule to meet up the years.”
She explains that “When our staff are going on retirement, we pay you hundred per cent of what you contributed to the cooperative. For example, if during your service years you contribute N3 million or N4 million or N2 million, when you retire, you will go with double tye amount contributed, tell me who will give you that?”
Abraham listed key achievements of the staff cooperative to include the COCOS hotel and gardens, housing projects include the 160 plots KYC La Villa Diamante Housing Estate, Airport Road Abuja and construction of 119 units Ja’afaru Ahmed Royal Estate in Kuje amongst others.
