A CHANCE TO CORRECT THE SYSTEM
The appointment of Sylvester Nwakuche as the Acting Controller General of the NCS is a choice well made, reckons Henry Udutchay
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) plays a pivotal role in national security
by maintaining public safety, reforming and rehabilitating offenders, as well as
ensuring justice dispensation. However, its effectiveness is heavily dependent
on the quality of leadership guiding its operations. In recent times, the service
has faced several challenges such as overcrowding, jailbreaks, and
infrastructural decay which have attracted intense public outcry and
mistrust. Excellent leadership is crucial in addressing these myriad challenges.
Arising from the foregoing, there was and excitement when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche as the Acting Controller General of the
Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), effective December 15, 2024. This followed
the retirement of Haliru Nababa who recently concluded his tenure upon reaching the statutory retirement age.
This appointment heralds the beginning of strategic leadership that prioritizes
vision, excellence and innovation in the beleaguered Service. With a growing
population of inmates currently put at over 80,000, most custodial facilities
are operating beyond capacity, and often under deplorable conditions. There is the
immediate need for leadership that would exhibit foresight and creativity as
well as develop public policies and innovative initiatives to address these
issues. Such initiatives will not only enhance the service’s operational capacity but also align with global best practices. And that is why the President has made the right choice
in Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche.
Born on November 26, 1966, in Oguta, Imo State, Nwakuche has built a
distinguished career in the Nigerian Correctional Service. He attended the
University of Calabar as well as the University of Lagos where he obtained a
Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees respectively. He joined the Nigerian
Correctional Service as an Assistant Superintendent of Corrections (ASC) in 1990,
after the mandatory National Youth Service, and rose steadily through the ranks to
the position of Deputy Controller General in 2020. His commitment to professional
development is evident in his fellowship at the National Institute for Policy and
Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, a premier institution dedicated to high-level policy
and strategic training.
He has served in several correctional formations in Port Harcourt, Lagos, Ibadan,
Kaduna, as well as the National Headquarters Abuja. He was once Technical
Assistant to the Special Assistant on Prison Matters to the then President,
Olusegun Obasanjo, and also the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to two
Controllers-General of Corrections.
In 2016, he attended the Senior Executive Course 38 of the National Institute for
Policy and Strategic Studies(NIPSS), and upon graduation, was posted as Controller
of Corrections In-charge FCT Command. He has also attended several courses,
conferences, workshops and seminars both locally and internationally. He is a
member of many professional bodies namely, the National Institute, International
Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA), African Correctional Service
Association (ACSA), Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), IBB Golf Club,
amongst others.
The acting CGC is an amiable, serious-minded, and thoroughbred officer. He is a
highly motivated corrections professional, with several successful decades of
impressionable managerial track record as well as administrative excellence. He is
a team builder, with a knack for distinction and excellence. He has contributed
immensely to public policy formulation that have impacted the criminal justice
system as well as national security.
Prior to his appointment, Nwakuche served as the Deputy Controller-General (DCG)
in a number of directorates in the Service including Operations, Inmates
Training and Productivity, Non-custodial Measures as well as Training
and Staff Development (TSD). Under him, the ITP directorate recorded a spike in
revenue generation from prison industries and farm centres. Also,
in his capacity as DCG TSD, he emphasized the importance of continuous training
and retraining of officers to enhance operational efficiency and uphold the service’s
standards.
As he assumes the role of Acting Controller-General, Nwakuche is expected
to leverage his extensive experience to advance and enhance the fortunes of the
Nigerian Correctional Service. His tenure is anticipated to focus on enhancing staff
welfare and well-being, revamping the battered image of the Service, improving
inmate reformation and rehabilitation programmes, and strengthening security
measures within custodial and non-custodial facilities. His previous emphasis on
training and development suggests a commitment to building a more professional
and responsive correctional service.
His appointment marks a significant milestone in his distinguished career. His extensive
experience, commitment to professional development, and national recognition
position him as a capable leader poised to drive positive change within the Service.
The nation looks forward to his contributions toward enhancing the effectiveness
and integrity of Nigeria’s correctional system.
The Nigerian Correctional Service requires a superintendent who is visionary, ethical, and proactive. Acting CGC Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche is such a leader that the Service needs in this critical time, not only for the service’s internal efficiency but also for achieving its broader mandate of safeguarding society and reforming lives.
Chief Udutchay writes from Abuja
