The Nigerian PrisonsService (NPS) is a government agency of Nigeria, which operates prisons. Theheadquarters is located in Abuja, and it is under the supervision of theMinistry of Interior.
As of 2014, it had 240prisons. While 155 are prisons for convicts, the remaining 83 are satellitefacilities. The prisons include the following:
- AdamawaState: Yola Prison
- EbonyiState: Abakiliki Prison
- FederalCapital Territory: Kuje Medium Prison
- LagosState: Ikoyi Prison; Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison; Kirikiri Medium SecurityPrison and the Kirikiri Women’s Prison – it is the only women’s prison inNigeria
- YobeState: Gashua Maximum Prison
How Is the NPS Structured?
Generally, thestructure of the Nigerian Prisons Service is divided into two: theadministrative structure and the command structure.
Starting with the administrativestructure, at the top of the Prison Service sits the Controller-General of theNigerian Prisons Service. He is the Chief Executive Officer and is responsiblefor the formulations and implementation of prison policies in Nigeria.
He reports to thePresident through the Minister of Interior and the Civil Defence, Fire,Immigration and Prisons Services Board which the Minister heads. But in mattersof prison policy, he takes direct responsibility for policy implementation.
He has six (6) DeputyControllers-General (DCGs), who head the six broad administrative divisionscalled Directorates into which the Service is broken for effective management.
The DeputyControllers-General heads the Directorates report to the Controller-General.The Directorates are specialized divisions, charged with the responsibility ofcoordinating specific areas of the prison administration.
Next is the commandstructure: The Nigerian Prisons Service operates a four-level Command. The topstructure, which is the National Headquarters in Abuja, is divided into eight(8) zones with each zone having State Commands under it.
The Zones are headed byAssistant Controller-Generals of Prisons while the State Commands are headed byControllers of Prisons. The prison is the last unit of the structure.
The Controller-General of Prisons
This rank was calledthe Director of Prisons, until it was renamed in 1992 into theController-General of Prisons since then. Each Controller-General of Prisonsserves as the Chief Executive Officer. The rank’s main task is to ensure allthe penal policies are currently formulated and correctly implemented into lifein our country.
The Deputy Controller-General
This is the second-highest rank of the Nigerian Prisons Service. This position is called DCG, and there are currently 6 people who serve as DCG in the organization. Each one is leading one of the six administrative divisions of NPS. They include the Operations, Administration and Supplies, Health and Social Welfare, Finance and Budget, Inmates’ Training and Productivity and Works and Logistics.
The Assistant Controller-General of Prisons
Next in Nigerian PrisonService rank structure is the Assistant Controller-General of Prisons. They areleading the ‘zones.’ The whole organization consists of 8 zones in which Nigeriais divided into.
The Controller of Prisons
Every territory is inthe 8 zones and has control of different states under it. Each of such statesis led by the next rank in the structure – the Controller of Prisons.
Prison Warden
Every prison in Nigeriahas its Prison Warden. It is the superintendent of the correctional facility; theofficial rank is known as Superintendent of Prisons (SP). Each SP is in chargeof the whole prison facility, supervises every operation within the facility,takes care of the security, makes sure the inmates are taken care of, etc.
The Rest of the Nigeria Prison Service
The rank structure besides the Prison Warden, every prison has other ranks, including:
- Deputy Superintendent of Prisons (shortly called DSP)
- Assistant Superintendent of Prisons I (the official abbreviation is ASP.I)
- Assistant Superintendent of Prisons II (the official abbreviation is ASP.II)
- Senior Inspector of Prisons (the quick name of this rank is SIP)
- Inspector of Prisons (the simple abbreviation is IP)
- Assistant Inspector of Prisons (the quick rank abbreviation is AIP)
- Prisons Assistant I (shortly this rank is called PAI)
- Prisons Assistant II (the rank’s simple abbreviation is PAII)
- Prisons Assistant III (it is abbreviated as PAIII).
Related:
- All You Need to Know about Nigerian Army Ranks and Symbols
- Nigerian Immigration: Ranks, and Structure and Salary
- Nigerian Navy Ranks, Symbols and Salary Structure
Wrapping up
The NPS members of staff (cooks, doctors, officers, janitors, etc.) are treated as paramilitary staff. Thus, the ranks of Nigerian Prisons Service are paid according to the Consolidated Paramilitary Salary Structure (CONPASS).
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