President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Nwakuche Sylvester Ndidi as the Acting Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), effective December 15, 2024. The announcement follows the retirement of Haliru Nababa, who served as Controller-General for three years and seven months.
Haliru Nababa, appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari, was pulled out of service in a colorful ceremony on Friday. During the event, his contributions to the correctional system were praised as transformative and impactful.
Born on November 26, 1966, in Oguta, Imo State, Nwakuche Ndidi brings extensive experience to his new role. Before his appointment, he served as Deputy Controller-General in charge of Training and Staff Development. A fellow of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) and a recipient of the Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) national honor, Ndidi is known for his commitment to capacity building and reform.
Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, lauded the retiring Controller-General, describing his tenure as “visionary” and marked by significant strides in the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates. Represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, Tunji-Ojo noted that Nababa’s leadership aligned with the government’s vision of promoting justice and public safety.
In his valedictory address, Haliru Nababa expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve, reflecting on a career that began in 1990 when he joined the then Nigerian Prisons Service.
“It has been quite a memorable experience for me,” Nababa said. “The support and cooperation I received from my management team and field officers enabled the Service to weather storms and achieve significant progress in areas such as security, logistics, healthcare, capacity building, inmates’ welfare, and staff promotion.”
He thanked President Tinubu and Minister Tunji-Ojo for their support and wished his successor success in continuing the Service’s reforms.
As Ndidi assumes leadership, stakeholders anticipate continuity in reform efforts to further enhance the NCoS’s mission of rehabilitation and public safety.
By: Nigerian Correctional Service Media Team
