The Federal Government has taken decisive action against indiscipline within the nation’s correctional system, announcing the dismissal of 15 correctional officers for what it described as serious misconduct and blatant violation of service rules.
In a statement released on Friday, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) confirmed that the affected officers were found guilty of various offences, including dereliction of duty, aiding and abetting inmates in illicit activities, and acts capable of undermining the integrity of the correctional service.
According to the statement, the disciplinary action followed a thorough investigation conducted in line with the Public Service Rules and the Nigerian Correctional Service’s internal regulations. The dismissed officers, the NCoS noted, were accorded fair hearing before the final verdict was reached.
“The Service has zero tolerance for any form of misconduct that compromises the safety, security, and rehabilitation of inmates. This action should serve as a strong warning to all personnel to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity,” the statement read.
The Federal Government further reiterated its commitment to reforming the correctional system, ensuring accountability among staff, and restoring public confidence in the service.
This latest move comes amid ongoing efforts to strengthen the correctional system and curb the rising cases of corruption, negligence, and breaches of security within prison facilities across the country.