By Chinyere Amalu

ABUJA—The Controller General of Nigerian Prisons Services, Mr. Olusola Ogundipe has refuted a strike threat by some individuals under the umbrella of “Prison Inspectors”, saying such name or organisations do not exist in the Service.

According to Mr. Ogunddipe, apart from the fact that the 12 names of Inspectors of Prisons mentioned in an alleged statement by the group at the end of their meeting to some media outfits are fictitious and not in the nominal roll of the Service, “no such organisation with the name, association of Prisons Inspectors exists in the Prison Service”.

“Moreso, no Prison staff is neither constitutionally allowed to belong to trade union nor allowed to hold such meeting”, he added.

According to a statement by the Assistant Controller of Prisons, Public Relation Officer, Mr. Kayode Odeyemi,  “ it is on record that since July, 2006 when the incumbent Controller General of Prisons assumed office, a total of 5,530 junior staff have been promoted, while about 239 junior staff were upgraded to high rank after acquiring additional academic qualifications”.