A TECHNICAL REPORT ON STUDENT INDUSTRIAL WORK

EXPERIENCE SCHEME (SIWES) UNDERTAKEN AT CORRECTIONAL

SERVICE OF BORNO STATE HEADQUARTERS MAIDUGURI.

SUBMITTED

BY

MUSA SHEHU
MATRICULATION NUMBER: NOU181000328

FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCE

SUBMITTED TO THE DIRECTORATE OF SIWES NATIONAL OPEN
UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA (NOUN) UNIVERSITY VILLAGE, PLOT
91, CADASTRAL ZONE, NNAMDI AZIKIWE EXPRESS WAY JABI
ABUJA NIGERIA

APRIL, 2022

1
 ABSTRACT

This is the report of my student’s industrial work experience scheme (SIWES) at

the Nigerian Correctional Service, state Headquarters Maiduguri. The report
covers three chapters which include chapter one which covers the introduction of
SIWES, A brief history of the Nigerian Correctional Service and its organizational
structure. Chapter two covers the skills and practices I acquired, the training and
maintenance I received and the specific work I did. Chapter three covers the
summary, conclusion, recommendations experiment I faced, and references.

2
 CHAPTER ONE

1.1 INTRODUCTION

The students industrial work scheme (SIWES) is a program coordinated by ITF

and the National Universities Commission (NUC). This effort is to bridge the
technological science, agriculture, medicine, management and other professional
educational programs in the Nigerian tertiary institutions. The approved SIWES by
the NUC is port of the minimum academic standard requirement for the award of
all professional degree in all Nigerian Universities

1.2 AIMS/OBJECTIVES OF SIWES

The students industrial work experience scheme (SIWES) is aimed at exposing

students to industrial based skills necessary for a smooth transition from the
classroom to the world of works. It affords students of tertiary institutions the
opportunity of being familiarized and exposed to the needed experience in
handling machine equipment, professional work that are usually not available in
the educational institutions and the method and ways of safeguarding their working
areas and co-workers in the industries and other organizations.

To give students the ability to try and apply the given knowledge. The objectives
of SIWES programme are all about strengthening future employers and also a
successful attempt to help students to understand the underlying principles of their
future work.

1.3 BRIEF HISTORY OF THE NIGERIAN CORRECTIONAL SERVICE

The history of the Nigerian correctional service is divided into the pre-colonial and
early colonial era.

The Nigerian correctional centers as a means of correcting offenders was not

new to many pre-colonial communities in Africa. In Nigeria, for example, different
communities have their own legitimate methods of dealing with deviant members
of their societies. The Ogboni Rose among the Yorubas, the Ewedas among the
Edos or Binis, served as correctional centers in the northern part of the country the
fulanis had similar centers while among the Tivs and Igbos, the were indications of
functional equivalents of correctional centers. The Lagos Blues books shows the

3
existence of a place of confinement at Faji where culprits were admitted in the
correctional institution and employed mainly in street cleaning. Between 1873 and
1900 this place of confinement was referred to as a goal and its staff called ‘’Gang
Drivers’’ because of the nature of the Government assumed responsibility for the
administration of Lagos in 1861, the evolution of an organized correctional
institution system began as one of the Government earliest terms of administration
of justice. In 1862, freeman was commissioned to constitute and appoint judges
and other necessary officers. The operation of a court and the appointment of at
least an establishment of a correctional center.

Consequently, by 1872, Broad street correctional center had been opened to

accommodate 300 inmates but it was not until 1879 that the correctional service
ordinance came into force. The system was modeled along that of the British. As
British administration expanded. So also more correctional centers were built as a
necessary complement.

By 1901, Correctional centers had been established in old Calabar, Asaba,

Benin city, Sapele and Degema, under the control of the police Department. In
1914, Lord Lugard succeeded in amalgamating the Northern and Southern
Protectorates into present day Nigeria. Following the amalgamation, the
correctional service ordinance of 1916, and Correctional service Regulations of
1917 were made as a positive step aimed at establishing the much needed uniform
standard of correctional centers administration. For instance, he was empowered to
declared any building in any province a correctional center and to make regulations
for correctional centers administration. He was empowered to appointed the
Director of Correctional centers and other officials who were to be responsible for
general management and superintendence of the correctional centers system. The
Directors of Correctional centers were in turn empowered to make standing orders
for the organization, discipline, clothing of the correctional centers and staff.

In the south where Correctional Centers were modeled. A convict Correctional

center for those sentenced to more than two years in correctional center; a
provincial correctional center for offenders serving less than two years and
divisional correctional center to hold short-term inmates serving less than six
months’ sentence.

4
 Administratively, the general control and supervision was vested in the
Director of correctional center. Convicts and provincial correctional centers were
manned by senior correctional service officers, but Divisional correctional center
were, for convenience, placed under the supervision of administrative officers.
However, in 1920, the police ceased to be in-charge of correctional centers
administration in the south.

In the North, the pattern was entirely different. Native Authorities operated
correctional centers on local levels usually under the day today supervision of the
chief warder or ‘’Yari’’ (in Hausa) and under the administrative control of the
district official/provincial secretaries.

1.4 THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF PERSONNEL

MANAGEMENT BRANCH.

The Nigerian correctional Correctional Service Headquarters has a lot of branches

under it.

The branch as it is presently constituted is headed by the controller General of

Nigerian Correctional Service and Deputy controller General and their head office
is in Abuja as National Headquarters, under the leadership of controller general
there is assistant controller general who headed zonal offices in the six geo-
political zones in Nigeria, under the leadership of assistant controller general there
is state command headed by state controller general and they are the ones who
oversees the command and control of each state in Nigeria.

CHAPTER TWO

2.1 THE STATE HEADQUARTERS OF NIGERIAN CORRECTIONAL

SERVICE.

The state headquarters of Nigerian correctional service Maiduguri where I

served, is a Nigerian Non – custodial center.

5
 The Nigerian non-custodial center is responsible for the administration of
non-custodial measures, including

a. Community service;
b. Probation;
c. Parole;
d. Restorative justice measures;
e. And any other non-custodial measures assigned to the correctional service
by a court of competent jurisdiction.

The functions of the state and the federal capital territory committees shall align
with those of the National committee on non-custodial measures.

The proposal stated in subsection (1) (b) shall be made available for:

a. Controller – General;
b. The chairperson of the administration of criminal justice monitoring
committee;
c. The minister responsible for social welfare;
d. And any other body as may be determined by the National Committee on
Non-custodial measures.

The controller – General shall make regulations preserving

a. The duty of the supervising officers for each of the non-custodial measurers
stated in section 37;
b. And any other matter that is necessary for the proper implementation of the
Act

The controller – General shall administer the parole progress, including:

a. The appointment of members of the parole board;

b. Supervision of paroles;
c. Rehabilitation of the paroles;
d. Administration of the designated parole facilities;
e. And taking any other step for the proper implementation of this provision
and other non-custodial measures.

6
 The saving and transitional provisions set out in the second schedule to this Act
shall have effect not withstanding any other provision of this Act.

In this Act ‘’afflictive nature’’ mean any circumstancing with causes grievous
physical or mental suffering, pain or distress;

‘’Chief Judge’’ means the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, the High Court
of Federal Capital Territory and a state High Court;

‘’Communication Device’’ mean any equipment that aids the analog, digital or
wireless transmission of data, including mobile phones, tablets laptops or
Bluetooth devices;

‘’Controller-General’’ Means the Controller-General of the Nigerian correctional

service;

‘’Correctional Center’’ mean any center that serves as a place for detention, or
incarceration aim at promoting a reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of
inmates;

‘’Correctional Officer’’ Means officers of the Nigerian Correctional Center,

Nigerian custodial center and Nigerian non-custodial center;

‘’Correctional Service’’ means the Nigerian Correctional Service established under

this Act;

‘’Custodial Center’’ is a place where individuals sentenced by the court requiring

incarceration are kept or those remanded in custody by the order of the court are
kept, and may be used interchangeably with ‘’custodial facility’’ or ‘’custodial
officer’’ means officer of whatever rank appointed under part 1 of this Act;

‘’Custodial Service’’ is the aspect of the Nigerian Correctional Service that

administers or supervises individuals or persons remanded in custody;

‘’Function’’ includes powers and duties;

‘’Inmate’’ means any person lawfully committed to custody

‘’Juvenile offender’’ Means an offender below the age of 18;

7
‘’Medical officer’’, in relation to a custodial center, includes a person directed
under this Act to perform the functions of a medical officer in respect of that
custodial officer;

‘’Minister’’ means the minister charged with responsibility for the Nigerian
Correctional Service;

‘’Motorised formation’’ includes vehicles to convey inmates, escorts officers,

armed squad personnel, and back-up vehicles;

‘’Non-custodial Service’’ is an aspect of the Nigerian Correctional Service that

Service as an alternative to going to a custodial center;

‘’Non-custodial centers’’ means designated centers in the community for the

administration of non-custodial measures;

‘’President’’ means the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;

‘’Public Holiday’’ includes Saturday, Sunday and days officially declared as such;

‘’Requisite Health facilities’’ includes sanitary installations adequate to enable

every inmate to comply with the needs of nature when necessary and in a clean and
decent manner, adequate bathing and shower installations shall be provided so that
every inmate may be enabled and required to bath or shower as frequently as
necessary for health and cleanliness, and drinking water shall be available to every
inmate whenever the inmate needs it;

‘’Sentence of imprisonment’’ means any sentence involving confinement in a

correctional center (whether or not it is combined with labour of any kind) and
includes a sentence given by way of communication as well as an original sentence
passed by court;

‘’Sheriff’’ means the officer responsible for carrying out the capital punishment
order by the court of competent jurisdiction as stipulated in the sheriff and civil
progress Act;

‘’Slavery’’ or ‘’Servitude’’ means force labor, bondage imposed, or the

involuntary subjection of one another or others;

8
‘’ State Authority’’ means the governor of a state and the state Authority in
relation to a person confined in custodial center; and

‘’Superintendent’’ means the custodial officer in charge of the custodial center.

CLASSIFICATION OF CUSTODIAL CENTERS AND INMATES

a. Maximum security custodial center: this refers to a custodial center with an

enhanced level of security including the use of close circuit television,
electric fencing, electronic scanners and high level technology, reserved for
high risk inmates of all classes.
b. Medium security custodial centers: this refers to a custodial center with a
reasonable level of security reserved for the inmates of all classes.
c. Open custodial centers: special centers: special custodial centers for the
treatment of long term-first offenders.
d. Farm centers: for convicts with good conduct who have six month or less
serve.
e. Satellite custodial facilities: for convicts serving three months’
imprisonment or less; and awaiting trial persons charged for minor offences
who are required to be presented in court in locations without major
custodial facilities.
f. Borstal institutions: for the detention and treatment of juvenile offenders.
g. Female custodial facilities: for all classes female inmates.

The state Headquarters of Nigerian Correctional Service Maiduguri where I served,

is a non-custodial branch where inmates are not kept but oversees the activities of
custodial branch where inmates are kept

The state Headquarters of the Nigerians Correctional Service Maiduguri is

headed by the state controller general who is supported by the Deputy controller
and supervisors of various departments.

The aim of the departments of the correctional service is to contribute towards

maintaining and protecting a just, peaceful and safe society, by:

a. Enforcing court – imposed sentences

b. Detaining inmates in safe custody

9
 c. Promoting the social responsibility and human development of all inmates
and those subject to community corrections.

The departments core business is the safe custody and supervision of offenders.
It practices risk management in respect of offenders and acknowledges and applies
the concepts of humanity and human rights regarding all stakeholders.

The departments under the state Headquarters are as follow:

- Administrative department
- Aftercare department
- Armed squad department
- Medical department
- Intelligence department
- Finance department
- Kettering department
- Transport and Logistic department
- Works department
- Welfare department
- Agric department
- Record department
- Statistics department
- ICT department
a. Administrative department: the administrative department is statutorily
charged with the responsibility of the general administrative work of the
wing. It includes typing of reports, letters, statements e.t.c. they handle and
safe keep all files that are brought and treated in the wing. This department
is the first point of call in the wing because it has reception, so whoever
comes to the wing is first attended to by this department and their
complaints or whatever brought them to the wing are documented and
transferred to the appropriate department. They make records of daily
happenings in the daily occurrence book in the wing.
b. After care department: After-care as a social rehabilitation programme for
inmates upon their discharge; it is essentially a programme inmates are
taught how to succeed out the correction center environment and are given
tools to succeed. After-care service is thus a partnership programme

10
 expected to involve the correctional service, the offender, his family,
voluntary agencies and the community. The most vital contribution the
correctional service make towards public security and safety is to properly
prepare offender for release.

Duties of After-Care Officer in The Correctional Service

 Receiving discharge inmates requesting for after care officer services in their
locations.
 Keeping a register of such persons
 Coordinating after –care work of voluntary bodies/workers.
 Writing monthly report job done.
 Conducting after-care casework interview for inmates in the yard.
 Organizing pre-release programmes for inmates about to be discharged.
c. Armed squad department. The category of personnel in this department are
equipt with combat dressing and arms while discharging their duties some of
their duties are: they provide escort for inmates while taking them to be
correctional center, they provide escort for inmates while taking them to
labour, they provide escort for inmates when taking them to court, they
provide escort while taking inmates for execution, they provide escort while
taking inmates to hospital, they provide escort for their superiors(those in
high ranking in the service), they provide guard duties in the yard and gates,
they provides maximum security for the inmates and personnel in the
correctional centers.
d. Medical department: the category of personnel in this department play a
role of providing treatment for the sick inmates and routine check-up for the
inmates, they are responsible for checking of inmate’s health before and
after sentences.
e. Intelligence Department: the category of personnel in this department play
the role of gathering the useful information and they are the ones in position
to find the escape inmates. The intelligence department does not wear
uniform to discharge their duties but they are always on civil dress so that
they can relate with the civil population and gather the necessary
information.
f. Finance Department: the category of personnel in this department play the
role of monitory sand operating the account of Nigerian correctional service,
11
 they are responsible in signing any money taking in to the account or signing
any money taking out of the account, they are the ones to play the personnel
their allowances, they are the ones to sign out money for inmates feeding,
they are the ones to manage and control the money belong to the Nigerian
correctional service.
g. Kettering Department: the personnel under this department play the role of
cooking and monitor the cooking for the inmates, it is their duty to ensure
that every inmate is fed as it’s supposed to be. The chief cook in this
department most ensure that the food is in good quality and quantity, he
make sure that the food is ready at the right or at the required time.
h. Transport and Logistic Department: the category of personnel in this
department play the role of transportation of logistic of the Nigerian
correctional service such as operational vehicles, food for inmates, uniforms
for prisoner’s medicine for inmates, items needed in the offices, items
needed in the custodial and non-custodial centers, Arms and ammunitions
and all items needed to keep the service active.
i. Works Department: the personnel in this department play the role of
repairing bad vehicles in the service, they are in position to repair the
facilities that are bad in the correctional centers.
j. Social Welfare Department: The personnel fall in this department pay more
concentration on the inmates and they ensure that inmates rights would not
be deprived from them. Welfare department play the roles as follow: they
record complains, they assist inmates in withdrawing their money, they link
inmates with their relatives, friends and spouses, if inmates need to see the
legal counsel it is the duty of the social welfare to link them with the legal
counsel, they make sure inmates are in good health, if any inmates is sick
which he cannot continue with the sentences it is the duty of social welfare
to write to the Authority so that such inmates will be withdrawn from the
custodial center; they make sure inmates are treated according to the
prescription by the law, after an inmates finished his sentences and such
inmate required after-care officer it is the duty of the social welfare to link
such inmate with the after-care officer.

2.2 SKILLS AND PRACTICES AQUIRED

The course of my SIWES program.

12
  I learned about the Nigerian correctional service and its duties, then the
hierarchy of commands and the channel of command in the service. S
 I learned the functions of social welfare as well as other departments in
the Nigerian correctional service.
 I was trained in the mastery of investigation using different methods such
as interview and interrogation. I learned how to save or retrieve
information or documents from any unwilling suspect during
investigation or documents from any unwilling suspect during
investigation process. I also learned how to make case entries.
I was exposed to the preparation and presentation of reports handled by
the special investigation office, providing me with the knowledge of
giving a clear and detailed report on any investigated subject matter as it
relates to any breach of law.
 Familiarization with the organization structure as well as the staff in the
organization. My supervisor showed me all the departments in the
custodial and non-custodial centers and he also introduced me to other
offices and their functions.
 I learned how inmates channel their problems to social welfare
department and how their problems or issues will be treated. I learned
how social welfare will link inmates to their relative’s friends, spouses or
legal counsel. I learned how social welfare department will prepare an
after-care officer for an inmate that finished his sentences.

2.3 MAINTENANCE RECEIVED

I was not paid for the work done during my training.

2.4 SPECIFIC WORK DONE

WEEK 1 – 3

I handled multiple roles assigned to me during my training at the Nigerian

correctional service Maiduguri. I was rotated round the various departments
throughout my training period, so I gained experience from the various
departments and branches.

13
 A breakdown of the done during my course of training include:

- Social Welfare Department:

 My supervisor delivered a lecture to me base on how the nature of the
work is, and he created awareness to me on dos and don’ts of the
service.
 My supervisor introduced me to the units under the correctional
service for the benefit of my training and he attached me to social
welfare office which the officer in charge of the social welfare
introduced all the books and the files to me. E.g monthly returns files,
inmates cases and complains files e.t.c .
 I was assigned to file all the monthly returns files from the custodial
center of Maiduguri, and forwarded to the administrative officer in
respect of Borno state command and I was also assigned to file all the
correctional center link brought to the state Headquarters office in
respect of the custodial center.
 I was there when the legal counsel came with their application of visit
to one of the custodial centers and the controller approved their visit. I
was there also when the general lecture was conducted, organized by
the supervisor on the aims and objectives of the correction service in
order to reform, rehabilitate and reintegration of the perpetrators.
The welfare officer assigned me to proceed all inmates complain
letters to the controller general for their transfer to another custodial
center. I was also assigned to record all the monthly return files on
social work from various custodial centers and forwarded to
administrative office.
- General Store
 My supervisor took me to the general store department which the
person in charge of the store introduced to me some of the things in
the store such as: inmate’s uniforms, vehicles tyres, inmates
handcuffs e.t.c the store man showed me how to arranged inmtates
uniforms according to their numbers for easy issuing. He also taught
me how to record items signed by the personnel for further
accountability.

14
  We received letter from the superintendent to issue out s8 pieces of
inmates uniforms for the newly admitted inmates and I also
participated in issuing the uniforms for them, thereafter, I recorded
the items that was issued out.

WEEK 5

- Radio Room:
 I was introducing to radio communication department. Thereafter the
radio operation introduced to me the available radios in the
communication center. I was also taught, based on the types of radios
available with them in the center such as: High Frequency radio (HF),
very High Frequencies radio (VHF), Motorola and man pack.
 I learned about the quality and effective use of the communication
radios, on this note, I discovered that very High Frequencies radio is
not capable to translate for a long distance but High frequencies radio,
Motorola and man pack radio are capable of translating for a long
distance.
 The radio operator taught me how to maintained the communication
radios in case of any difficulty in communication and he also taught
me how to communicate with radio and how to send and receive
signal.

WEEK 6

- Medical Clinic:
 I was taken by my supervisor to the field of medical clinic and I saw
how sick inmates were treated but the those that have serious health
issues normally took to hospital for proper treatment, I was there
when the medical personnel were doing medical checkup for the
inmates, there I learned that some inmates can be set free or
withdrawn from the sentences due to their health condition such as
HIV and AID, cancer e.t.c.
 I observed how the medical personnel were given psychiatric
treatment for those marked s ‘’for observation’’ who may be

15
 psychopathic. This is to discover possible unconscious motivation to
the criminal’s behavior.

WEEK 7

- Administrative Department:
 I was introduced to the field of administration work and the
administrative officer put light to me on the administrative work in
respect of Nigeria correctional service.
 I was in charge of receiving visitors. And making records in the daily
occurrence book and transferring inmates complain files to the
relevant departments.
 I prepared reports and presentation of reports and cases that were
handled by the intelligence and brought to the admin department for
onward delivering to the relevant authorities.
 I joined the admin department to do a lot of computer work which
include typing and printing of statements, complaints intelligence and
case reports.

WEEK 8 – 11

- Social Welfare Department:

 My supervisor put light to me in the office of welfare, he asked me to
prepared inmates request letters to be transferred to another custodial
center.
 Inmates complained to us that, in their present custodial center has
insufficiency recreation centers that serves as tension reduction to
them and some of their custodial center’s facilities are bad but the
authority failed to fixed them back, they further said that they have
right as every other person has, therefore, they will not fold their
hands when their rights have been debrived from them.
 I and some of the social welfare personnel went to the custodial center
to seek for the inmate’s opinions in which some of the inmates that
they are not properly fed while some that, they don’t receive proper
treatment when they are sick and many of them says their minds but I
was able to put all them complains and request in written, thereafter, I

16
 compiled all them complains and request to the controller and he
treated and acknowledge.
 I participated in linking some inmates to legal counsel and I also
linked some of them to their relatives, friends and spouses, I assisted
many of them in one way and the other.
 My supervisor whom is a member of social welfare department gave
me a lecture on the aims and objectives of in correction which bring
me to this note, the most important aims and objectives of in
correctional is reformation and rehabilitation which I learned that
reformation: is the act of making the offender better by trying to
change his delinquent behaviours. While rehabilitation: is an act of
bringing the offender to normal life.
 I learned the purposed of punishment which makes me to understand
that, offenders serve punishment for the purposes of paying for their
Evil and to make them and other people to be afraid of committing
such evil or crime.
 I received lecture on admission inmate at the gate I understood that,
the process of admitting an inmate started at the gate lodge. The
officer who is bringing the inmate to the correctional center brings
along with him the inmate warrant.
 I was given lecture by my supervisor on the meaning of warrant which
I understood that, warrant is a legal documents that empowers
correctional center authority to keep an offender in the custody or
releases him from the lawful custody, he also listed the types of
warrant to me such as: Remand warrant, Detention warrant,
Reproduction warrant, Release warrant, Transfer warrant and
commitment warrant.
 I learned the meaning of correctional center which brings me to this
note that is a place where offenders are kept as punishment or
correction for crime commitment. He listed and explained the types of
correctional centers to me as follow:
Convict correctional center: I learned that these categories of
correctional centers; they receive offenders of all types.
Provincial correctional centers: I learned that, these are correctional
centers where offenders serve sentence of two years and above and
17
 such correctional centers can accommodate between 150 – 200
inmates.
Divisional correctional centers: I learned that, these are correctional
centers where offenders serving sentences of two years and under.
Open correctional centers: as the name implies, I understood
that, this type of correctional center is not walled. It is open and there
is only one such correctional center in Nigeria – at Kakuri – a village
in Kaduna state. This open correctional center is planned for first
offenders that show promise of social adjustment to community
standards.
Lock-up: I learned that, these are usually located at places
having a court of law but no correctional centers.
Correctional center camps: I learned that, correctional center
camps represent a system of combining reformative policy with the
best use of correctional center industry.
 I was taught on the religious worshipers among the inmates which I
understood that, the law of the Nigeria allowed Christianity and
Islamic religions in the correctional centers so that inmates can be
lead in moral rehabilitation. I also learned that, inmates have right to
go to school in the correctional centers which many of them are
graduate todays.
 I was given lecture by my supervisor in respect of offences
commitment by the inmates in the correctional centers such as:
mutiny, violation of any of the regulations of the correctional center,
common assault by one inmates on another, disorderly behavior,
negligence of work, having in possession of any article not allowed by
the correctional centers regulations, willfully destroying any tools or
properties of government, willfully mismanagement of work, willfully
disabling himself from labor, conspiring, attempting to escape,
attempting to assist someone to escape, loitering about in the yard,
omitting or refusing to help any officer of the correctional center in
case of any attempted escape or an attack upon another inmates,
disobeying any lawful order or an officer of the correctional center or
omitting or refusing to perform duties in the manner prescribed.

18
  My supervisor taught me the role of executioner as follow: it is the
duty of the executioner to cover the head of the condemned person to
prevent the person from seeing what happened during the last terrible
moment. He also taught me the role of medical officer during the
execution. After the execution took place, it’s the duty of the medical
officer to climb down the ladder into the pit to confirm and be
absolutely sure that the person is dead.
 I was lecture on the escort duties in the correctional centers which,
understood that an inmate is not allow to go anywhere in the yard
without being escort by an officer. Every movement to be made by an
inmate, must be escorted by an officer for security reasons and
protection of the inmates. I discovered that escort duty is the act of
following or accompanying inmates in order to monitor their
movements and activities for security reason. The areas where the
escort duties is perform such as: To the court, to the Hospital during
execution, on the transfer to another correctional center e.t.c.

WEEK 12 – 16

- Custodial Center Branch:

 My supervisor took me to the field of custodial center branch, there, I
saw some inmates manufacturing goods for sale as private industries
in the custodial center, those goods and government. Those private
industries also help inmates to live a good life in the community after
their sentences in the correctional center.
 There in the custodial center, I was taught on the duties of the
superintendent in-charge of the custodial center and the duties are as
follow: He is in-charge of general supervision and administrating the
center, He received and oversees the management of ration – supplied
to the correctional center and he shall from time to time test the
quality and quantity of the ration given to the inmates, He approved
visit to the inmates and also receives important visitors to the inmates
and also receives important visitors to the correctional center, He
approved and oversees the safe keeping of the inmates records and
documents, He inspect and addresses staff weekly parade, He

19
 approves topics for staff lectures and oversees the conducts of such
lectures.
 I was taken to the office of Chief warder, there, understood that Chief
warder is another officer in the general administration of the
superintendent in charge. The Chief warder narrated his duties to me
in the custodial center as follow: He ensures that discipline is
maintained among the warders and the inmates, He prosecute during
adjudication, He receives and treated complaints from warders and
inmates, He attends to daily weighing inmates rations, He tests
inmates foods before serving, He carried out routine inspection of the
yard & He ensures peace and discipline in the warders’ barracks, He
is a member of admission in the discharge boards, He passes out
gangs and allocates inmates in the yard, He keeps records of location
of every inmates in the yard, He conducts testing of rods.
 All the personnel in the correctional center were addressed by the
Deputy controller (DC) to maintain laws and orders in the service and
also advised the personnel to be on alert at all times the Deputy
Controller also declared four days lectures on the topic; Ethic,
Traditional and custom of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
 I was told and also participated on the duties of Ration clerk/cook
warder. We issued food items to the cook warders, we prepare bills
for payment of ration, we ensure that standard is maintained in the
quality of the inmates feeding, we also maintained the quantity of
food.
 Some inmates complained to us that, the ration given to them on daily
basis is not enough for them to sustain their lives, there after we
compiled them complain and forwarded to the superintendent in
charge of the custodial center and he treated and acknowledged the
complains.
 I was taught on the categories of inmates that can be consider for
amnesty such as: convicts who have stay three years and above and
have less than six months of their term left, convicts who have served
ten years and above, convicts with old age (60 years and above) and
those who have terminal illness e.g AID, Cancer e.t.c.

20
WEEK 17 – 18

- Record Office:
 My supervisor took me to the record office, there I learned that, the
records office is another important office in the correctional center
yard. The officer in charge of the record office is as importance as the
office, hence he performed the duties with his subordinates. After the
gate man, the next officer to receive the inmate is the records officer.
 We performed the following duties in the records department as
follow: we conducts the mandatory search on the newly admitted
inmates, we enters the particulars in the all classes of inmates, we
enters the particulars in the awaiting trial, we collects and keeps all
the inmates’ properties, we maintains all the financial transactions of
inmates and keeps all remand warrants, we collects and keeps all
commitment warrant in the case of convicted inmates, we receives
production warrants from courts and prepares inmates for court, we
ensure that all inmates who are due for hearing go to court on the
appropriate date, we keeps and maintains the daily state of the
correctional center, we prepares on behalf of the superintendent, we
reports escapes and deaths to the superintendent in charge, we issues
back to the deserving inmates their properties during discharge, we
gives information about inmates to the courts on request, we prepared
lists for jail delivery for the superintendent in charge.
 I received lecture on parole and probation which I understood that,
after observing some inmates’ behavior our in the correctional center,
and the inmates having served up to half of their sentences, they can
be released for on parole.
Parole refers to the release of a person from a correctional facility
after he has served part of his sentence. It is distinguished from
unconditional released in that the parole is placed under supervision of
the authority and conditions are imposed upon his behavior.
 I learned that, probation is like parole that has conditions attached to it
before and inmate is allowed to complete his term of sentences
outside the correctional center.

21
 Probation is a sentence that does not involve confinement but does
involve conditions imposed by the court.

WEEK 19 – 22

- Social Welfare:
 I was taught on jail Delivery by my supervisor, there, I learned that,
the regular problem of correctional centers in Nigeria is congestion.
This refers to a situation whereby a correctional center accommodates
inmates above its normal prescribed capacity. Congestion makes it
difficult for coordinating officials to smoothly attain their target aims
of affective.
 I understood that, congestion often leads to over stressing of existing
facilities in the correctional centers. It also has some negative effects
on the health of the inmates. The process of finding a solution to this
challenge, the judge or magistrate is at liberty to set some inmates,
who falls under his parameters for release, free from correctional
center. These parameters include: inmates of old age, inmates that
have health conditions, nature of offence and period spent in detention
(for minor offenders).
 My supervisor took me to the office after – care officer and the officer
In charge of aftercare lecture me on the roles of after-care service; he
said that, after-care is a social rehabilitation programme for inmates
upon their discharge; it is essentially a programme in which inmates
are taught how to succeed outside the correctional center environment
and are given tools to succeed.
 He further told me that, after-care service for an offender begins the
moment he or she comes into the correctional center. He also taught
me that, the most vital contribution the correctional service can make
towards public security and safety is to properly prepare offenders for
release.
 I leaned the meaning and causes of trafficking when my supervisor
conducted the general lecture. He said that trafficking is the act of
taking in, throwing in attempting to take in, or taking out of all
unauthorized articles or information into arid from a correctional
center. This makes me t understood that, all unauthorized transaction
22
 or communication with inmates by either a staff or an outside visitor
through negligence of duty by custodial staff is trafficking.
 I learned the causes of trafficking and I discovered that, is like every
other corrupt practice, those who engaged in trafficking have given
one or two reasons for their involvement as poor salary, irregular
payment of salary on the part of authority to staff. Son the other hand,
inmates who engaged in trafficking say that since they do not have
any means of livelihood while in the correctional center, selling of any
item that is available to them helps help make some money for
occasional purchases. I discovered that the evil that is behind the
trafficking is: Riot or disorderly conduct by inmates, Breakdown of
law and order, deaths, of both staffs and inmates, escape etc.
 I was taught on escape and the reasons for escape. I learned that,
escape is the act of gaining illegal freedom from lawful custody.
Escape can occur during lobour outside the correctional center or
inside the correctional center, escape can also occur when inmates on
admission in Hospital are not well monitored or guarded.
 I understood that, some reasons are responsible for escape in the
correctional center, such as: carelessness on the part of the warder, by
keeping inmates out of sight while on outside labour, fraternization
that makes warders to trust inmates and thereby allowing them to
work or go on errands unescorted while on outside gang, allowing
inmate to go on outside labour with clothing other than their real
uniform, allowing inmates to be in position of large sum of money
while on outside labour, lack of supervision of the inmates by the
warders while working outside, sending inmates to work outside
during weekends, allowing inmates to have access to communication
gadgets such as radio and GSM handsets, irregular searching and
checking of burglary proof on windows and door to ensure that their
integrity is uncompromised, correctional center congestion and poorly
coordinated visits, leaving ladders, tables and poles carelessly in the
yard, Trafficking which allows inmates to have access to saw blades,
and acid and other dangerous weapons such as guns and knives which
can be used to plan mass escape.

23
WEEK 23 – 24

- Custodial Center:
 My supervisor took me to custodial center, there I learned about the
meaning of congestion, causes of congestion, effects of congestion
and solutions to congestion.
 I discovered that, when correctional center is taking above capacity in
terms of population, it is refers to as correctional center congestion.
 I leaned the causes of congestion as follow: poor administrative
network among the criminal justice system; i.e the police, the
judiciary and the correctional service; lack of access to legal aid by
most awaiting trail inmates, inadequate or limited accommodation in
the correctional center, Delay in dispensation of justice, the large
number of awaiting trial inmates in the correctional center. I leaned on
the effect of congestion as follow: it promotes conspiracy against the
constituted authority by the inmates, it gives room for homosexuality
and lesbianism, overstretches the facilities for reformation and
rehabilitation due to numbers, it affects the health of inmates ,
congestion may lead infections skin diseases, it leads to overstretching
of the available facilities in the correctional center such as toilet and
water supply, congestion promotes escape, congestion facilitates
trafficking, it facilitates riots and breakdown of discipline, congestion
leads to frequent jail delivery in the correctional centers.
 I also leaned the solutions to correctional center congestion as follow:
Regular jail delivery should be encourage, the government should
embark on a programme of correctional centers, the Nigerian
correctional service should assume a creative leadership role in
criminal justice administration in Nigeria, the problem of poverty and
unemployment should be addressed to reduce crime rate in the
society.

24
 CHAPTER THREE

3.1 SUMMARY

I did my training at the Nigerian correctional service, state Headquarters

Maiduguri. I leaned about the Nigerian correctional service and its duties, the
hierarchy of commands and channel of command in the service.

I learned the functions of social welfare as well as other departments in the

Nigerian correctional service.

I was familiar with the organizational structure as well as the staff in the
organization. I was introduced to the department under the organization and I
followed all the departments and work under them.

I was given many task in the custodial and non-custodial center most
especially in the field of social welfare where I receive inmates complains letter
and transfer letters.

I participated in rehabilitating and reforming many inmates in the

correctional center, I also linked many inmates to their relatives, friends, spouses
and also liked them to the legal counsel in the office of social welfare.

3.2 CONCLUSION

The students industrial work scheme (SIWES) is a program coordinated by

ITF and the National Universities commission (NUC). This effort is to bridge the
gap between theory and practice of engineering and technological science,
agriculture, medicine, management and other professional educational programs in
the Nigerian tertiary institutions. The approved SIWES by the NUC is part of the
minimum academic standard requirement for the award of all professional degree
in all Nigerian Universities.

25
3.3 RECOMMENDATIONS

I recommend that a little maintenance be paid to students on IT to boost their

morale and grand better zeal to learn.

More practical session should be organized in our various fields of study.

3.4 CHALLENGES

I faced a lot of challenges during my period of training which included lack

of maintenance which covered finance and my general welfare. Lack of access to
all materials and short time for practical sessions.

2.5 REFERENCES

 A hand book on the history of the Nigerian correctional service.

 Custodial center daily occurrence report book of Nigerian correctional center
Maiduguri.
 Olawale, Wole (2005). Revisional Digest for correctional center worker.
 www.siwesbeginner.com
 www.google.com

26