The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) has warned its personnel across the country to immediately eschew a growing habit of “indiscriminate” acquisition of loans from banks, loan sharks and other predatory lenders.

A recent memo to service commands and training facilities nationwide decried the behaviour as “unhealthy,” adding that it has negatively impacted the service’s public image.

Commanders were authorised to hunt down and reprimand “scapegoats” because the conduct has persisted in violation of public service rules, especially around section 030414(i)-(7), which prohibits financial embarrassment.

“The indiscriminate manner officers and men of the service collect loans from all manners of financial institutions, namely banks, micro-finance banks and online financial related institutions, at ‘almost the same time'” put the officers “under undue pressure contrary to PSR 030414(i)-(7),” the July 13 July circular signed by Deputy Controller-General Ahmadu Adamu said. The directive came following a briefing with NCS Controller-General Haliru Nababa, on whose behalf Mr Adamu distributed the memo.

The memo said the practice often leaves officers stranded shortly after salaries are paid because most of the earnings had been used to settle outstanding loans, which can be difficult to service for most personnel.

In one payslip obtained by Peoples Gazette, an officer who received N102,616.12 in May 2023 salaries was left with only N5,754.83 after a litany of deductions by lenders.

All zonal coordinators and commandants of training colleges were asked to start a sensitisation campaign to help keep the practice in check and spare the service’s reputation.

“This unhealthy practice is not only telling on the productivity of the officers concerned but also impacting negatively on the image of the service in the eyes of the public,” the memo said.