By Palma Ileye
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Akinlade Oluwatoyin has called on the public to welcome and accept ex- offenders, stressing that the inmates have gone through various reformatory and rehabilitation programs while in custody there-by making them changed and better citizens.
Akinlade made this call during the familiarization tour to the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCoS, Headquarters in Abuja.
She expressed satisfaction on inmates welfare particularly their mental health while in custody and the vocational skills programme which gives them good sense of belonging.
She further said “my dream for Nigerian Correctional Service is, no offenderwill go back the same or worse, I know that most of my work will be on Corrections because my heart is here” while expressing satisfaction on the reformatory and rehabilitation programs of inmates which help them to be self-employ upon discharged.
The PS charged the public to stop stigmatizing ex-offenders; rather they should assist in their re-integration to the society as they have a lot to offer to the development of the society.
She said Correctional Staff are doing a lot to see that inmates don’t go back to the society the same way they came, she enjoined members of the public to complement the efforts of NCoS.
Akinlade also said she was passionate about Correctional Service and appeal to the management and Staff to cooperate with her to achieve great height and pledged to put in her all to ensure that the service is well recognized globally.
She urged the Service to blow their trumpets and publicize its activities to the world through documentaries and TV shows so that the society can appreciate and support.
She also promised to promote staff welfare in other to get the best out of them “welfare for the Inmates, welfare for the Staff, lets start with the staff. If you don’t take care of the Correctors, you will not get Corrections, no morals- no result” she said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Controller General of Corrections Haliru Nababa enumerated the challenges and prospects of the Service.
He reiterated his commitment to the welfare of both inmates and staff adding that, “When we talk of inmates, we talk of staff.”
