by Mayowa Aboah
The Comptroller of Nigeria Prisons Service, Lagos Command, Catherine Ononye, said on Thursday that infrastructure at the nation’s prisons had been upgraded to international standards.

At the decoration of some newly- promoted officers and men of prisons service at Alagbon, Ononye said a total of 174 officers from Ogun and Lagos commands including 10 controllers were decorated on the occasion.

“Government has improved the conditions of prisons in the country compared to what it was in the past.

“The inmates are being equipped so that they can be relevant in the society after serving their terms,” Catherine said.

She said inmates were no longer subjected to energy-sapping jobs such as breaking of rocks and construction of railroads among others. According to the controller, prisons are now regarded as correction centres where inmates can be taught different kinds of vocations.

“We have moved from punishment to corrections, we equip them so that where possible, they can be employed after leaving or serving their terms.”

The inmates undergo trainings such as sweeping, cutting of grass within the premises and domestic work which will make them better persons after serving their terms.”

On the promotions, Catherine said they were based on three criteria — performance of officers, passing promotion examinations and spending the prescribed number of years on a grade level.

She appealed to the officers not to use their new positions to intimidate junior ones.

Some of the decorated controllers were Oluyemi Omotayo, Tinuoye Olumide, Isioma Onwuli, Hellen Apanama and Mrs Tinuade Ladipo.

Sola