The House of Representatives on Wednesday unveiled plans to probe the activities of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) regarding the procurement of all contracts and food rations for inmates from January 2024 to date.
This follows allegations concerning the non-implementation of the upward review of food rations from ₦750 per ration to ₦1,125 per ration, as approved by President Tinubu in August 2024.
The issue arose during a review of the NCS’s 2024 approved budgetary allocation and 2025 budget proposal by the House Committee on Reformatory Institutions, chaired by Hon. Chinedu Ogah.
Responding to the committee, the Comptroller General of the Correctional Service, Mr. Ndidi Nwakuche, who was appointed by President Bola Tinubu on December 15, 2024, explained the situation.
He stated:
“Last year, we were at ₦750. This year, Mr. President graciously approved ₦1,125. The approval was granted last year but took effect from August 2024.”
However, he argued that the non-release of funds to the agency prevented the implementation of the newly approved ration of ₦1,125 per inmate.
Addressing allegations that the Service continued using the old ration rate, the Comptroller General explained that after the approval was granted on August 1, 2024, the agency initiated the necessary bureaucratic processes to ensure implementation.
When asked whether the Service would implement the newly approved rate of ₦1,125 per inmate if funds were released and backdated to August 2024, one of the officials accompanying the CG, Mr. A. I. Adagiri, responded affirmatively:
“Yes, Sir, it will be backdated.”
The lawmakers subsequently requested relevant documents to confirm the implementation of the new ration rate.
Mr. Adagiri also referenced a Tender Board meeting held in August 2024. The committee further requested all relevant transaction documents for procurements made by the agency from January 2024 to date to verify the accuracy of the agency’s claims.
The lawmakers criticized the agency’s lax administration, questioning why the Comptroller General wrote another letter to the Federal Ministry of Finance after the President’s approval.
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On the 2025 budget proposal, the NCS helmsman disclosed that President Tinubu had approved the recruitment of 5,000 new personnel into the Service. However, the process has been delayed due to a funding shortfall that hampered the agency’s ability to meet salary and allowance requirements for the recruits.
He assured the committee that the recruitment would proceed once approval was received from the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), with necessary allocations now included in the 2025 fiscal year.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on Renewable Energy, Hon. Victor Ogene, expressed dissatisfaction over the delay, emphasizing the urgent need to address overcrowding in correctional facilities across the country.
Hon. Ogene stated:
“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.”
Responding, Mr. Ndidi attributed the delay to the lack of cash backing, reiterating that the process would begin once funding was confirmed.
Speaking on the 2025 budget proposal, he disclosed that a total of ₦183.6 billion was allocated to the Service, including ₦127 billion for personnel costs, ₦45.8 billion for overheads, and ₦13.4 billion for capital expenditures. Of this amount, ₦38 billion was allocated for feeding the country’s 91,100 inmates at a daily cost of ₦1,125 per person.
He expressed concerns about the reduction in capital expenditures, which was slashed by ₦762 million, and called for an additional ₦70.4 billion in funding.
He explained that the additional funds would be used to modernize custodial facilities, enhance security, and digitize inmate management.
“To ensure the effective functioning of the service, we need advanced technology in our facilities. This includes CCTV surveillance, biometric scanners, body cameras for staff, and state-of-the-art security systems across all correctional centers,” Mr. Ndidi stated.
The NCS’s modernization plans also include upgrading its seven training institutions to modern ICT standards and acquiring new operational vehicles and arms for security personnel. These measures aim to foster a safer and more efficient environment for both inmates and staff.
“With President Tinubu’s directive and the necessary financial provisions in the 2025 budget, the Nigerian Correctional Service is poised for significant transformation.
“Whether this overhaul will address the longstanding issues of overcrowding and inadequate personnel remains to be seen, but the steps taken so far suggest a much-needed shift in the country’s correctional system.”
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