…needs N6bn to recruit additional 6,545 personnel
Whooping sum of N3,945,691,338 was released from the Service Wide Vote to Nigeria Prison Service (NPS) in 2016 fiscal year to augument its personnel cost without approval of the National Assembly.
Jafaru Ahmad, NPS Comptroller General disclosed this during the 2016 budget appraisal and 2017 budget defence held at the instance of the House Committee on Interior, chaired by Adams Jagaba.
In his opening remarks, Jagaba who stressed the need for reform of the Nigerian prison service, frowned at the failure of the Service over utilisation of N4.246 billion approved for procurement of operational vehicles for the conveyance of inmates to various courts across the country.
The chairman, who accused the NPS of frustrating trial of inmates, said: “we have issues of conveying inmates to courts, it was to the embarassment to Federal Government. It has been stalling court cases in all the states across the country. You have to justify why more money should be appropriated to you in running the prisons.”
Other lawmakers also expressed displeasure over the spate of jail break, wondered how the Service was able to achieve 100 percent construction of 10 satellite prisons despite non-release of fund as reflected in the documents presented to the committee.
While responding, Jafaru Ahmad, NPS Comptroller General explained that the Service operates four types of salary templates adding that the appropriated fund for personnel cost was inadequate to pay the 27,992 personnel for 2016, hence made representation to Federal Ministry of Finance for additional N3.945,691,338 to raise the personnel cost to N38.281 billion.
In the bid to ensure effective discharge of its function, Ahmad disclosed that the sum of N6 billion is required for the recruitment of 6,545 personnel in addition to the existing 27,992 officers spread across the 36 states and FCT.
He explained that the sum of N800 million was approved for procurement of arms, N3,274,675,590 was for renovation of prisons while the sum of N5,997,439,661 outstanding is yet to be released to pay the contractors.
Ahmad added that out of the total sum of N4.246 billion appropriated for procurement of 350 vehicles contract awarded, 117 vehicles have been delivered in 2016.
According to him, estimated sum of N16 billion was spent on feeding of 72,000 inmates and dogs yearly, adding that out of the existing 240 prisons, 83 prisons were categorised as satellite prisons while 210 were inherited from the colonial masters from 1897, 1901 and 1902.
