In a decisive disciplinary action, the Federal Government has terminated the services of 15 officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) due to serious misconduct and blatant violations of service regulations.
This development was officially confirmed by the NCoS spokesperson, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC) Abubakar Umar, in a statement released on Thursday in Abuja.
The dismissals followed a comprehensive review of 231 disciplinary cases examined by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) through the Disciplinary and General Purpose Committee (BDGPC).
In addition to the dismissals, the board imposed several other sanctions including rank reductions for 59 officers, written warnings for 42, compulsory retirements for 8 personnel, and a rank reversal along with a directive to refund earnings for 1 officer found to have held an improper rank.
The review process also cleared 16 officers of all allegations, while 7 remain suspended pending further investigation.
Notably, the case of one officer was escalated to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for prosecution, highlighting the strict enforcement of accountability.
DCC Umar emphasized that these disciplinary actions reflect a zero-tolerance policy on corruption and misconduct within the correctional system, driven by the Ministry of Interior under Dr. Olubunmi Tunde-Ojo, the current chair of CDCFIB. The measures are part of broader reforms aimed at restoring discipline, professional integrity, and adherence to global best practices in Nigeria’s correctional services.
This crackdown addresses long-standing public concerns regarding corruption, inmate abuse, and lax rule enforcement by NCoS personnel, signaling the Federal Government’s intensified commitment to transparency and ethical standards within the institution.
