The retiring Controller of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Ogun State Command, AbdulRashed Alimi, on Thursday, lamented the poor salary package for the officers of the agency.
According to him, workers’ salaries do not reflect the risk involved in their jobs as well as the biting economic situation of the country.
Alimi who bows out of service at the attainment of the mandatory retirement age of 60 years and after putting in 33 years into federal civil service said that the Minister of Interior, Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and the Controller General of Nigeria Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, must further collaborate to improve on the welfare of the service staff.
The controller joined the service in January 1991 after earning a degree in International Relations from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna. He served in Kano State and other commands as a welfare officer until he was posted to head Ekiti State Command of Nigeria Prison Service now Correctional Service. He was later posted to Ogun State in 2021 Speaking during the retirement ceremony held at the Federal Secretariat, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, Alimi described his 33 years of service as one full of sincerity of purpose and diligent service to the nation.
The retiring Controller has however lamented the poor welfare of the staff of the Correctional facilities, particularly as it relates to salaries saying that what the officers receive currently does not reflect the biting economic situation of the country as well as the risk involved in the job.
He said that despite this challenge, the officers have remained committed to national service urging them to keep doing their best to strengthen the security of the country
Alimi said “The welfare of the service staff is paramount because our job involves lots of risks and for me, that is leaving the service today, I have gone through many of those risks, so we need to encourage the staff.
“We need to improve on their salaries, what the officers collect as salaries is nothing to write home about, I can confidently tell you that. It doesn’t reflect the risk involved in the job as well as the biting economy but despite that, the staff are still very dedicated and quite diligent to their service to the nation.
“The concerned authority must do something about that as we go into the new year because what you earn has a way of boosting your morale and enhancing productivity too”
The Controller lauded Gov Dapo Abiodun for his time-to-time support for the correctional service through the state Security Trust Fund as well as for helping in decongesting the Correctional facilities through granting of amnesty among others.
Alimi also thanked the Minister of Interior, Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and the Controller General of Nigeria Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa for their support and commitment to turn things around for the good of the nation urging the officers still in service to double up efforts to keep the country safe at all times.
