The Federal Government has expressed commitment to the protection of inmates’ rights, warning officers and men of the Nigerian Correctional Service NCoS against contravening human rights laws.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo handed down the charge Monday in Abuja at the opening of a two-day Performance Contract Signing Retreat, with the theme “United Front for a Secure Nation and Future.”
While he charged the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC to take urgent steps to secure the nation’s power infrastructure, Dr Tunji-Ojo also urged the Civil Defence Correctional Fire and Immigration Services Board CDCFIB to begin to think of establishing a Paramilitary Academy.
He said the Federal Fire Service must begin to look beyond fighting fires and improve on its rescue efforts, while the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS must do more in the area of migration management.”
The minister said; “For the Nigeria Correctional Service NCoS, I will never defend you when it comes to issues of reputational management and correctional institution development. But as a minister, we will take responsibility and we will be better because you have a critical role to play in the national security architecture.”
“Also, the Correctional Service has to be a place of hope, not a place where hopes are truncated. Obviously, we must change from prisons – a place of incarceration – to correctional service, a place of transformation, rehabilitation. So, whatever you are bringing to me, let it be based on the premise of rehabilitation, corrections, reformation and transformation. If it is not, then it is not what I want to hear.”
“Respect for human rights is also very key. Our responsibility in the Correctional Service is to make sure we respect human rights and we treat people with dignity. We serve as the link between the weakest and the strongest in the society. That is very fundamental.”.
“The immigration has done a lot in passport reforms and I am happy with what they have started today with regards to border security and border control measures. Immigration is coming to life but a lot still needs to be done. There is a lot in migration management that you have to do and also ensure that no person of interest comes into this country and any foreigner in this country can be identified at any point in time.”
“The Fire Service is very critical. It is beyond fire service. There is a lot of rescue technology all over the world.”.
“For the NSCDC, protecting critical national assets is very important. Vandalism of our power and telecommunications infrastructure as well as solid minerals, I need you to be in charge of critical national assets in line with your mandate and Establishment Act.”
“The National Identity Management Commission NIMC, I always tell you that you cannot defend people you don’t know. You are the foundation of identity management in Nigeria. Financial inclusion is a function of identity management in Nigeria. Security is a function of identity management and there is a lot to be done in that regard.”
“The Board has done fantastically well over the last one year. There is a lot more to be down with regards to our training and retraining. I think it is time for us to think of a Paramilitary Academy. We have to really think about that. I do not want the paramilitary agencies in Nigeria to just be a place for people who are just desirous of jobs. I want the paramilitary to be a career for a young secondary school students with the aim of going in as a secondary school leaver just the way you go to the Police Academy and Nigeria Defence Academy. You build a career across the paramilitary and we catch them young. We mould them and we can train them to our own taste and global best standards”.
Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Magdalene Ajani said the retreat is a defining moment and “an opportunity to reaffirm our shared mandate of the ministry – providing an environment where everyone is safe”.
