Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has decorated no fewer than 330 officers and men with their elevated ranks within its Enugu State Command.
The newly decorated personnel include: 175 senior officers, 37 cadet officers on advancement to officers’ cadre and 118 lower rank personnel (wardens).
Performing the decoration on Thursday in Enugu, the Controller of Corrections in Enugu State, Mr Nicholas Obiakor, urged the newly promoted and decorated to see their elevation as an added responsibility.
Obiakor, who also doubles as the Commander of NCoS Enugu State Command, said that “to whom much is given, much is expected.”
“You have to justify the elevation by living exemplary lives to those under you within official duty and off duty hours,” he said.
According to him, you must display utmost hard work and loyalty to the constituted authorities in order to justify the confidence reposed in you to get to these elevations.
“I want to return all the glory and thanksgiving to God for such a number of personnel being promoted and decorated today and we are witnesses to it.
“I want to appreciate the President and Commander-in-Chief as well as the Controller-General of Corrections for graciously approving these large promotion and decoration.
“I must congratulate those decorated today; and urge those waiting for theirs, to be patient a little and theirs will come.
“It is not that you are not hard working or loyal but it might be due to vacancy and chance. So, do not be discouraged; and continue to put in the required hard work,” he said.
Responding, newly decorated Deputy Controller of Corrections, Mr Kelvin Iloafonsi, said that the promotion and decoration would spur the officers and men to more hard work and improvement in all aspect of what they had been doing.
Iloafonsi, who spoke on behalf of all the decorated personnel, assured that they would keep the flag of the Service and Command flying through hard work, commitment and undivided loyalty to the authorities.
“We are thanking the Almighty God for making today possible; we appreciate the Controller-General of Corrections, Mr Haliru Nababa’s magnanimity in endorsing these promotions and our own Controller for creating enabling environment to allow us to perform.
“We are assuring the authorities that this great opportunity, which is a harvest of promotions, will be reciprocated with greater commitment and hard work to deliver on the mandates of the Service,” he said.
Iloafonsi, who have made a mark in educational enrollment and advancement of inmates, assured that he would work harder to double the numbers of inmates advancing their studies in all the custodian centres/facilities in the Command.
Those promoted and decorated where drawn from four facilities of the Command in Enugu State, which include: Enugu Custodial Centre; Nsukka Custodial Centre, Oji River Custodial Centre and Ezeagu Farm Settlement.
