NGO trains NCS instructors on implementation of non-custodian measures

Etim Ekpimah

A Non-Governmental Organisation, Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare (PRAWA) has begun a five-day training for correctional service instructors on effective implementation of non-custodial measures.

It was learnt that more than 40 instructors from the correctional centre were taking part in the training programme at the Nigeria Correctional Services (NCS) Academy, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State.

The programme coordinator, Dr Ugu Agomoh, said on Tuesday that the training was aimed at enabling correctional officers to understand community correction and educate others on how to supervise people who have been sentenced by court on non-custodial measures.

According to him, the training would be followed with online training to educate officers more on the subject matter and urged them to make use of all they learnt and understand to teach others.

He said: “Apart from enlightening them in the provision of the NCS Act, we are also making them to understand community correction as trainers.

“The key thing is that they were being trained as trainers so that they can train officers who comes in and more people would be aware of Non-custodial measures and how to supervise the people.”

In his remarks, the Controller-General of Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), Ja’afaru Ahmed, stated that human capacity development remains one of the top priorities in the service efforts to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the Nigerian Correctional Act, 2019.

Ahmed, represented by Assistant Controller General in charge of training, Lawal Audu, praised PRAWA on their effort in training officers and appealed to the participants to be committed and make use of the opportunity on how to implement the new Act.

“As part of its efforts to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the Nigerian Correctional Act, 2019, the leadership of the NCS places emphasis on training of trainers.

“All participants at the training organised by PRAWA are enjoined to make maximum use of the opportunity by paying full attention to the end of effective implementation of the new Act,” Ahmed added.

The commandant of the Correction Academy, ACG Amaliri Ifeany, stated that the training was aimed at repositioning the service in consonance with the new Correctional Service Act of 2019.

He, however, advised participants to utilise the opportunity and learn what the new order is to work shoulder high among the committee of friends as they had the privilege of being the first to be trained.

It was gathered that the training was sponsored by the European Union (EU), British Council and Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Centre (ROLAC) while certificate would be awarded to participants.