The Federal Government has charged the new Controller General (CG) of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, to institutionalize ongoing reforms in the Service before the expiration of his tenure in the next nineteen months.

Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, gave the charge while decorating him as the third substantive CG of the agency yesterday in Abuja.

He said that the government has high expectations from him due to his precedence while in acting capacity, and that his appointment is strategic to the ongoing reforms of the Federal Government to better the lives of inmates and Nigeria’s correctional service sector.

Dr. Tunji-Ojo told the CG, “You have about nineteen months to build a solid foundation, raise the standard of the Nigerian Correctional Service.

Therefore, don’t allow anyone to destroy the Service because from the moment you step into office, you are writing your script; you must write it well.

“We want a correctional service that will not be a condemnation service but one that truly corrects. All inmates are now your children, and it should be that from now our awaiting trial inmates should be considered as awaiting trial assets.”

The Minister pointed out that President Bola Tinubu has high confidence in the CG and would always support him, but he must justify that confidence by revolutionizing the Service and taking the agency to higher heights and above reproach.

“We will support you to succeed because in your success lies our uplifting. Please do not disappoint yourself, do not disappoint me, do not disappoint Mr. President, and do not disappoint God.

“Build your officers so that your successors will be better than you. A leader without a successor is a failure,” he added.

On his part, Nwakuche assured that he will, in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda, anchor his administration on the security of inmates, decongesting custodial facilities—as over 70 per cent of inmates are awaiting trial—infrastructural development, and inmates’ welfare, among others.

“We will renovate custodial centres that are experiencing dilapidation, build new ones where necessary, and invest in staff housing to create an environment that supports both correctional work and family life.

“The success of our rehabilitation efforts depends on how well we care for those in our custody. Therefore, adequate feeding, healthcare, education, vocational training, and strengthening after-care programmes will be pursued without compromise,” he said.