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Tag: NCoS

  • CSOs Condemn Protest, Call for Resignation of NCOS Comptroller General

    CSOs Condemn Protest, Call for Resignation of NCOS Comptroller General

    The Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG) has condemned the recent protest and calls for the resignation of Comptroller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCOS) over the alleged illegal detention of Major Gen. Umaru Muazu Mohammed.

    Addressing newsmen on Wednesday, CSGGG President Chief Ogakwu Dominic stated, “We, the civil society groups for good governance and other allied well-purposed civil society organizations, condemn the sponsored protest, misinformation, and resignation campaign.

    “We believe in upholding the truth and promoting good governance. We support the NCOS’s efforts in fulfilling its mandate, as well as the military’s efforts to maintain discipline and ensure accountability within their ranks.

    ” We will not stand idly by while mischief-makers attempt to tarnish the reputation of the NCOS, its Comptroller General, and the military.”

    Dominic urged the public to be cautious of sponsored protests and misinformation campaigns, appealing to CSOs to prioritize truth and integrity in their advocacy efforts.

    He requested that the military continue ensuring transparency and accountability in their operations.

    The group aims to correct what it sees as gross misinformation regarding the alleged illegal detention of the Army General.

    Dominic emphasised the importance of discipline in the military, quoting George Washington: “Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable, procures success to all of the weak, and esteem to all.”

    He noted that anyone who has erred, regardless of their standing in society, should face disciplinary actions if found culpable.

    He added that recently, a group of CSOs allegedly sponsored by interests intent on discrediting the NCOS and its leadership staged a protest requesting the resignation of Comptroller-General Haliru Nababa and the release of Maj. Gen Umaru Muazu Mohammed from Kuje Prison.

    Dominic stressed that the protest was orchestrated to distract from the genuine efforts of the NCOS in providing custodial care for inmates and the military in maintaining peace and security.

    “The NCOS does not carry out arrests. Arrests are typically performed by law enforcement agencies such as the Nigerian Police Force and the Department of State Services,” he saaid, adding that the accusations against the CG of NCOS by the George Uboh Whistle-Blowers Network are baseless.

    He clarified that Major General Umaru Muazu Mohammed was handed over to the NCOS after his conviction and sentencing by a military court-martial and is now serving his sentence at Kuje Correctional Center.

    Dominic concluded by urging the public to verify information through official channels before accepting it as true, asserting that the protest and resignation campaign aim to mislead the public and undermine the military’s authority.

  • NCoS Food Allowance: Nababa’s Statement Taken Out Of Context- CSO reacts

    NCoS Food Allowance: Nababa’s Statement Taken Out Of Context- CSO reacts

    A civil society group, Network of Concerned Citizens, has reacted to the statement made by the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa on feeding allowance for security dogs and prison inmates.

    Recall the CG had on Thursday, responding to a question from Oshiomhole during a joint hearing of the national assembly committee on interior, stated that the the total number of inmates in 2023 is 81,354 nationwide while 53,352 are awaiting trial, and that each inmate are fed with N750 daily and they are fed three times daily (N250 for each meal), while there are 900 security dogs and to feed a dog each day is about N800. This statement has raised so much dust from different persons, including Oshiomhole, the senate committee chairman.

    In a statement signed and made available to newsmen today, the executive director, Amb. Kanjal Awam, the group disclosed that within its own discretion, the statement made by the CG, was taken out of malicious context for media clickbaits and to discredit the excellent service of the leadership of the NCoS.

    It reads: ” As concerned citizens of this great nation, issues of national interest should be treated and addressed accordingly and appropriately free from bias. We have read and checked the statement of the Comptroller-General, Nigeria Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, and we do not get the noise and eyebrows it has raised so far.

    “The statement, “We feed each inmate with N750 daily, and they are fed three times daily (N250 for each meal). We have 900 security dogs, and to feed a dog each day, we spend N800.”, wasnt meant to put premium to animals than humans but that statement was to buttress the CGs’ concerns on the need to increase the feeding allowances of inmates which according to him, his request to the minister of interior for upward review of the amount to 3,000 per day is yet to be granted.

    “It is beyond weird and unthinkable, that a clear statement from a committed public steward, is misconstrued by the media and men with so much wealth of knowledge. Let us reiterate that the CG has a right to make statement but however the statement is taken or manipulated for the self-aggrandizement and malicious intent of the publishers and major for clicks, views and perhaps monetization and to marr/ tarnish images, which we do not understand why, is not and can never be the CGs’ fault to bear.

    “Even if the CG, meant it in the context it was taken or reported, taking care of animals is quite more expensive than humans because of their constant need for medications and other care considering the level of job they perform or task required of them. That aside, as watchdogs of the society, we are privy to the astute activeness of CG, Haliru Nababa and his commitment to the service, we know that he is keen to humanity and will never place value on dogs over humans.

    “Let us mention, that in the process of this statement, the CG, also stated that they have made provision for the feeding of inmates, dogs and staff on training in six training institutions across the country and the money is grossly inadequate. The main stream media in their reportage didn’t take it from that angle, but took it from an angle capable of creating a scene and raising eyebrows without minding the negative impact it leaves on the person involved.

    “We understand that the senate committee chairman, Adams Oshiomhole isn’t so pleased with the fact that dogs get 800, while Inmates receives 750, but like he said, this is a major Policy Issue and no one knows the intention of government to appropriate money to feed animals than to feed human beings. Hence, we are advising that instead of trying to blame issues on people, solutions should be panned to solve them.

    “The half way narratives from these medium, goes to show the loopholes in credible journalism, they have the chance as respected news outlets to contact the CG for a balanced perspective in other to go beyond the clichés and name-calling and excavate richer, deeper truths, at a time of profound division. At this point, i think with all this misconstrued art of reportage, value is constantly placed in the ancient power of storytelling, because it feels like we have all reached our collective limitations.

    “The CG, Haliru Nababa is a performing public steward and should not be rewarded with such controversies that could affect his mental health and his image.” The statement added.

  • Coalition Decry Allegations of Connivance of NCoS Personnels In Terrorism Financing 

    Coalition Decry Allegations of Connivance of NCoS Personnels In Terrorism Financing 

    • Calls for inter-agency collaboration amongst government institutions

    A foremost coalition of over 180 civil society organizations in Nigeria , Civil Society Groups for Good GGovernance CSGGG, has decried in all entirety allegations of connivance in terrorism financing made against personnels of the Nigerian Correctional Service by the Chief of Defense Staff and mode of information dissemination.

    It revealed that such a public declaration of sensitive information, has raised concerns, as this could compromise ongoing security efforts against insurgency.

    The President of the group, Comrade Ogakwu Dominic, during a world press briefing in Abuja on Sunday, noted that it is imperative for the CSOs to address some sundry issues bothering on information sharing and collaboration as it concerns matter of national security, because CSOs remain a formidable stakeholder in the nation’s project.

    Recall, on Tuesday 21st November, 2023, the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa during a public hearing by the House of Representatives, had alleged that some personnel of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS ) are conniving with inmates in terrorism financing of proscribed members of terrorist organizations.

    According to Comr. Ogakwu, courtesy of the highly intelligent nature of this information which plays a major role in the overall management of people’s security architecture, it is worrisome that the reputable Military Chief, threw caution to the wind in making such pronouncement publicly.

    He said: “One would naturally expect that as part of demonstrating inter-agency collaboration among government institutions and given the sensitive nature of such information, the CDS should have engaged the NCoS management discreetly to swing into a covert operation in fishing out the culprits rather than been influence by the gallery of the national assembly knowing fully well that divulging very sensitive information to the general public is injurious and equally a setback to the fight against insurgency. This is because coordination, management and utilization of information is very key in waging the war against terrorists and other criminals.

    “Ideally, it is expected that there should be a synergy between the military and paramilitary organizations in stemming the tide of insecurity in Nigeria. The non – kinetic approach to the fight against terrorism excludes direct or conventional military strategies and can only thrive on information warfare.

    “As a thorough technocrat, we urge General CG Musa to always refer to the National Crisis Management Doctrine (NCMD) for effective, efficient, and coordinated management of national crises to bridge the gap created by extensive deployment of security services. The NCMD is deployed by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to foster collaboration among Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure greater success in tackling national crises. And this can only be achieved if there is a continuous healthy and robust synergy among security agencies.”he said.

    The president of the group, emphasized on the need to take security serious as it is a collective business that is anchored on collaboration among the various security agencies, civil society, the media, and the coordinating Office of the National Security Adviser.

    ” It will therefore be right to assume that this lack of inter-agency collaboration was among the reasons why the collective security forces were not able to repel terrorists when the Kuje Custodian Centre came under attack on July 05, 2022.

    “However, it is pertinent at this point to commend the Hon. Minister of Interior, Mr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo who quickly swung into action by launching an investigation against the officials of NCoS in order to fish out the culprits.”

    Extolling the Minister’s initiative to free 4000 inmates in various custodial centres cut across the country, Ogakwu however, called on President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to support the initiative of previous administration to carryout massive infrastructural revolution of the nation’s outdated correctional facilities in line with international best practice as exemplified by the 3000 maximum facility in Kano which the Service says it is working tooth and nail to replicate same in other geo-political zones of the country.

    He noted that such development, will further reduce the pressure on the manpower of the current officers of the NCoS in order to discharge their functions excellently.

    “While we may never imagine casting aspersion on the integrity of the military knowing fully well their selfless sacrifice of ensuring internal security and the sovereignty of our fatherland, we are however obliged to call on them to come to agreement on issues of de-radicalization of repentant terrorist since our researches showed that procedures such as ‘de-radicalization’ is an exclusive right of the NCoS.” Ogakwu added.

    Finally, the coalition tasked the national assembly on the need to overhaul, remodel their approach of interfacing on issues bothering around security to avoid publicly divulging valuable information that can assist in the fight against insecurity.