President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Nwakuche Sylvester Ndidi as the Acting Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS). This follows the retirement of Haliru Nababa, who served as Comptroller-General for three years and seven months.
Nababa, who was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari, officially retires on December 15, 2024. A colourful pull-out ceremony was held in his honour on Friday to mark the end of his tenure.
The appointment of Nwakuche Ndidi was announced in a statement by Ahmed Ja’afaru, Secretary of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board. Ndidi’s appointment takes effect on December 15, 2024.
Born on November 26, 1966, in Oguta, Imo State, Ndidi previously served as Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of the Training and Staff Development Directorate. He is a Fellow of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) and holds the national honour of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR).
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, praised the outgoing Comptroller-General, Haliru Nababa, for his leadership and dedication to reforming the Nigerian Correctional Service. Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, the minister described Nababa’s tenure as exceptional, highlighting his contributions to reforming, rehabilitating, and reintegrating inmates into society.
“Under his leadership, the Correctional Service made significant strides in advancing its core mandate in line with the government’s vision of ensuring public safety while upholding justice,” Tunji-Ojo said.
On behalf of President Tinubu, the minister wished Nababa a fulfilling retirement.
In his valedictory speech, Nababa expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and reflected on his journey, which began in 1990 when he joined the then Nigerian Prisons Service.
He said: “The journey climaxed on May 10, 2021, when I was appointed Comptroller-General of the NCoS. Now, with profound gratitude to God Almighty, the journey has come to a fulfilling end. It has been a memorable experience, and from the start, I knew the responsibilities were enormous.”
Nababa highlighted key achievements during his tenure, including improvements in security, logistics, healthcare, staff capacity building, inmates’ welfare, and staff promotions. He commended his team for their unwavering support and cooperation, which helped the Service overcome challenges and make significant progress.
Nwakuche Ndidi is expected to build on these achievements as he steps into
Tinubu appoints Ndigbo son as new Comptroller-General for Correctional Service
