By Ezra Musa
Kaduna, Dec. 18, 2025 – In a significant step for Nigeria’s justice and security sector, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) graduated 300 new officers on Thursday. The ceremony, held in Kaduna, served not only as a celebration of their completion of rigorous training but also as a platform to outline the evolving mandate of the service within the nation’s broader security and reform architecture.
The Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, represented by Deputy Controller-General Umar Galadima, presided over the Passing-Out Parade for the 241 Basic Recruit Course. He charged the new graduates to be unwavering pillars of discipline and integrity, framing their role as a critical form of national service.
“You have gone through demanding training to equip you for the responsibility of national service,” Nwakuche stated, commending the recruits for their resilience during the six-month program. This intensive regimen included physical conditioning, academic instruction, psychological preparedness, and deep ethical grounding—a holistic approach designed to prepare officers for the complex realities of modern correctional duties, which extend far beyond mere custody.
Graduation Aligns with Broader “Renewed Hope” Reforms
The event was strategically positioned within the context of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes security and institutional efficiency. Nwakuche explicitly linked the graduation to these reforms, highlighting a pivotal shift in how paramilitary agencies like the NCoS are being managed.
A key instrument of this change is the full implementation of the Performance Management System (PMS) across the Ministry of Interior’s agencies. “The PMS is not punitive,” Nwakuche explained. “It is designed to reward competence, measurable performance, and service delivery.” This system marks a move from seniority-based advancement to a meritocracy, aiming to strengthen accountability, motivate officers, and ultimately improve public service outcomes.
The Modern Mandate: Beyond Custody to Correction and Rehabilitation
The Controller-General underscored the transformative impact of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act of 2019, which has fundamentally modernized the service’s operations. The Act mandates a dual-track system:
- Custodial Measures: The secure detention of convicted persons and those awaiting trial.
- Non-Custodial Measures: This is the revolutionary component, encompassing alternatives to imprisonment like community service, probation, parole, and restorative justice programs. This shift acknowledges that overcrowded facilities alone do not enhance public safety and that successful reintegration reduces recidivism.
This modern framework requires a new kind of officer—one who is not just a guard, but also a facilitator of rehabilitation, a supervisor of community orders, and a key player in the restorative justice process.
A Stern Warning and a Call to Duty
Balancing the welcoming tone with a sobering reminder of responsibility, Nwakuche issued a clear warning to the new graduates. He stated the service maintains a zero-tolerance policy for indiscipline, corruption, and unprofessional conduct. He urged strict adherence to the 2019 Act and the service’s Standing Orders, emphasizing that the integrity of the correctional system is foundational to its effectiveness and public trust.
The ceremony was witnessed by senior NCoS officers, proud family members, and well-wishers, marking the formal induction of these 300 individuals into a service at a crossroads—transitioning from a primarily custodial institution to a dynamic correctional agency central to Nigeria’s justice and security reforms.
Reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Edited by Benson Ezugwu/Bashir Rabe Mani.
