The Senate on Tuesday approved the appointment of Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche as the substantive Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS). Nwakuche, who succeeded Haliru Nababa, had been serving in an acting capacity since his appointment by President Bola Tinubu on December 13, 2024. His confirmation followed a review and recommendation by the Senate Committee on Interior, chaired by Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North).
President Tinubu had submitted his nomination last Tuesday, urging the Senate to consider and confirm him for the role. In a letter read during the plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu stated, “In accordance with Section 3(1)(b) of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) Act, 2019, I hereby present for confirmation the appointment of Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche as Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS). I trust the Senate will give this request the necessary attention.”
Following the confirmation, Akpabio tasked Nwakuche with addressing the persistent challenge of jailbreaks across the country. His appointment comes in the wake of Monday’s jailbreak at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Koton-Karfe, Kogi State, where 12 inmates escaped after breaching security by breaking padlocks in one section of the facility.
Nwakuche swiftly deployed a response team, leading to the recapture of five escapees. Acknowledging the challenges ahead, Akpabio reminded the newly confirmed Controller-General that his role comes with high expectations, particularly in curbing jailbreaks. He remarked, “To whom much is given, much is expected. We hope his leadership will put an end to the recurring jailbreaks.” The Senate later referred the matter to the Committee on Interior for further review, with a directive to report back within a week.
Source : https://punchng.com/
