FG Okays Employment Of 50 Doctors, 100 Nurses For Correctional Centres

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through the Minister of Interi­or, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has approved the employment of 50 doctors and 100 nurses to cater to the medical needs of inmates in correctional centres across the country even as he announced the presidential approval for the establishment of a National Paramilitary Academy.

The minister has also gotten a presidential approval for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to post medical doctors to correctional centres for the service year, in realisation of the need to protect the rights of the weakest in society.

A statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the Min­ister on Thursday said that Tunji-Ojo also announced the approval of the extension of service beyond retirement age for existing medical personnel under the Nigerian Correction­al Service (NCoS) to cover for shortfalls in the short term.

Before his appointment as minister, a state like Rivers State lacked an adequate number of medical personnel to cater to inmates, hence the need for the employment intervention.

The minister noted that the recruitment exercise would al­leviate unemployment, as it will become a continuous exercise.

The minister also announced the completion of the renova­tion of the Kuje Correctional Centre, noting that the facility has experienced a facelift from what it used to be into a befitting edifice.

“It is entirely new; from the cells to the water supply, to the hospital, amongst others, as we are making sure Mr. President’s magnanimity is felt across all ar­eas. For the president, it is about building a system that will stand the test of time, as he is not just providing short-term solutions to long-term problems. He is not providing long-term solutions to short-term problems, but pro­viding short-term solutions to short-term problems and long-term solutions to long-term problems, which is encourag­ing,” he stated.

Advertisements

The minister said the estab­lishment of a National Paramil­itary Academy will address the need to establish a degree-award­ing institution where young cit­izens will be trained in paramil­itary engagement.

“We need a degree-awarding institution, like the Nigerian De­fence Academy, that will train young persons after securing admissions through the Uni­versity Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

“When they come out, they come out as officers, properly trained to contribute their quo­ta to national security,” he said.

On visa issuance, the min­ister noted that the process is taking a new dimension, add­ing that all Nigerian visas will now be applied for online and processed (approved or rejected) within 48 to 72 hours.

On the security of lives and property, the minister reiterated government efforts in sanitising the Private Guard sector.

“We are ensuring that the sector is structurally built in such a way that it can add value to the security architecture of the country. We are in the pro­cess of deploying what we call the Guard Management System for the automation of processes along that line,” he said.