NCoS begins estate construction for staff

The Controller General, Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Ja’afaru Ahmed, said the service has begun construction of housing estate for staff across the country.

The CG, who spoke at the inauguration of the housing estate at Lugbe, Abuja, said the project is a frontline support that would provide financial succour to the NCoS personnel.

He said the project is a product of the partnership and collaboration between the NCoS represented by correctional cooperative society (COCOS) and KYC inter-project limited.

According to him, the estate comprises 160 plots which have been distributed among interested staff whose take -home pay could accommodate the required monthly deductions.

“It is indeed an estate within a mega estates; this is our own way of complementing Government’s efforts at meeting the housing needs of its citizenry,” he said.

He said, the construction of the housing estate in Abuja was a prototype, saying plans were on ground to replicate same in all the states of the Federation to give opportunity to officers to own decent and affordable accommodation.

The CG commended the effort of COCOS and advised the beneficiaries to take full advantage of the rare opportunity by living up to expectations.

Also speaking, the General Manager of COCOS, Lydia Dauda, said the staff housing scheme was the first ever by the Cooperative in its 28 years of existence.

“This is a first of its kind project and the first of many more to come and this vision was conceived sometimes in 2015.

“The Previous Management of the Cooperative began negotiations with KYC Inter-project limited for 60 plots of land in their estate and eventually, part payments were made.

“Coming to 2019, the management of KYC came to our office to return the part payment as there was no renewed effort to consolidate the contract.

“At this point, the management of COCOS (then PRISCO) considered it a viable investment to continue the project. Our recommendation was to make-up the payment to the developers which we can then recover in piece-meal from members.

“We then approached the CG to inform him of the development and to seek his approval. He asked us to verify the authenticity of the land and thereafter, gave his approval for the project.

“We concluded negotiations for the initial 60 plots. However, demands for the land increased and we had to seek the CGC’s approval to acquire 100 more plots bringing the total to 160 plots.

“With the kind approval of the CGs, we were able to make substantial payments for the 160 plots of land including part of the infrastructure cost,” she added.