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The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has disclosed that the service spends over N241 million to feed security dogs in its facilities spread across the country.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Comptroller General of NCoS, Alhaji Haliru Nababa made the disclosure when he appeared before the National Assembly (NASS) Joint Committee on Interior for the 2024 budget defence.
Addressing the committee on Thursday in Abuja, Nababa also disclosed that the service spends over N20 billion to feed inmates in the correctional centres.
He said the service had a total of 81,358 inmates nationwide, saying that 53,362 of the inmates were awaiting trial.
“We feed each inmate with N750 daily and they are fed three times daily (N250 for each square meal). We have 900 security dogs and to feed a dog each day we spend N800,” Nababa said.
However, the Senate threatened to step down consideration on the 2024 budget of the NCoS over insufficient information.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Interior, said he was unhappy with the services being rendered to inmates by the NCoS.
“Your organisation has transformed from Nigeria Prison Service to Nigerian Correctional Service but you have yet to change in your attitudes toward inmates.
“It’s not just your fault because the government appropriates little money for you, it is either you don’t feed the inmates or you feed them only once and even at that, very miserable food.
“This is why they have completely emaciated and some can never live a decent life again even when they did not commit an offence.
“You all know the price of food items in the market, so how can you look us eye to eye and tell us that you feed a man in Nigeria with N750 a day, how much is a bottle of water,” he said.
He said that the committee would not be in a haste to approve any budget for the service until it received satisfactory answers.