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OLUWO: I retired on February 1, 2006. my retirement was compulsory. I had served for 34 years when the Federal Government decided to reform the civil service. It said any public servant that had a health problem or was too old to continue in service must be retired. Another criterion was weak educational qualification. That was why I decided to retire.

What challenges did your job present?

Yes, of course, the work was full of challenges. If you are a hard-working person you would enjoy the work. For example, I had never been to Enugu before I joined the service. When I was redeployed to Enugu and I needed time to acclamatize, doing so was a big challenge to me.

Why did you choose a career in the prisons service?

In fact, before I was employed, my first love was the police. However, my dad didn’t let me. I quickly took a second decision, and picked the Nigerian Prisons Service. I realized it was a call to serve the nation. We in the prisons are supposed to be held in high esteem because we keep the nation safe from robbers and other criminals. If we fail in our duty, nobody would be able to sleep with the two eyes closed. You would be thinking of robbers all through the night. So, I liked the job. I enjoyed serving my country the way our past heroes did.

Any regrets?

No, I was very okay with the job. I don’t regret my enlistment in the Nigerian Prisons Service.

Tell me some of the courses you underwent?

I attended a recruit’s pioneer of training programme in Kaduna, a cadet’s course and armed combat exercise. I was among those that qualified for that course in Zaria.

What is lacking in the public service these days is discipline. How can discipline be instilled in the prisons service?

Officers have to be honest. They have to lay a good foundation for young ones to follow. They say you should train a child in the way he should go, if he grows up he would never depart from it. Let there be honesty and sincerity.

Have your expectations of life in retirement been largely met?

No. I retired last year but up till now my gratuity has not been paid. They make a false promise that immediately after our retirement our cheques would be ready for us to pick up. But up till date I haven’t heard anything from them. I don’t know how soon it would be. I’m still hoping and trusting God that it would be soon.

There was a course we undertook in Abuja. According to government, if you want to be paid quickly, you have to go for the course and I went, but still uptill date, nothing has been done.

How do you earn a living now?

Thank God, for the children He gave me. I have children that are working. If I don’t have a kobo today they would provide. I am not doing anything as at now, but I always count on them.

What had been your experience in the 34 years you served in the prisons service?

Ah! dealing with prisoners, hard criminals, both minor and major, was no easy task. In fact, I saw a lot. If you had once paid somebody a visit in prison you wouldn’t need a prophet to tell you to stay out of trouble.

What would be your advice for young officers?

Let them be contented with their salary. They should not be corrupt. Let them have the interest of the country at heart. Let them know that they have been called to serve the nation with sincerity.

What are the things that gave you joy when you look back?

During my time in the service, what gave me joy was, I received what belong to me. Nobody deprived me of that; my leave grant was paid, my salary also was paid to sustain my family and it gave us a good living. I served this nation for complete 34 years, I never had any misunderstanding with my boss, my colleagues and the younger officers. I served happily and I retired happily.

How do you pass your time?

I pass my time concentrating on how to improve my present condition.

Describe your typical day?

When I wake up, my bible tells me that whenever I see another breaking of the day, I should thank God. When I was still in the service I was placed on night shift. In the morning, I, my wife and entire family would gather to study the word of God and pray. I would have a bath, polish my shoes, take my breakfast and go out to visit friends. I return home at 3 pm to rest for a little while. After that I would eat again, read some papers, or watch some films or listen to news on television. When it was 6.30 pm I would prepare for work. By 7 pm I was in my office.

If you had another opportunity, would you still go back?

No! Government said we should retire, so, what am I still looking for there? I won’t go back. I had almost attained the age of retirement, if not completed. Let us go so that young ones would come in. that place is not my father’s house where I will remain forever.

How prepared were you when retirement came?

I didn’t know I would be retired last year. My retirement came as a surprise. But I knew I would retire some day but not last year.

How is life outside service like?

Life in general is a struggle. In fact, life is not easy but it depends on the way you take it. If you want to enjoy life you should know how to appreciate little things. the little you have, you should be contented with it. What God has not given you, never you try to get it by all means. We should learn to thank God for the little we have. That way things would go well with us.

Would you allow any child of yours to work in the prisons service?

If God says their destiny lies there, who am I to stop them? If my son says to me he wants to work in Nigerian Prisons Service, he is free to do as he likes. During my time nobody selected career for me, I decided on my own to join the Nigerian prisons Service.

Can you recall any sad moment in your career?

It was when I was expecting my salary and it didn’t come. In that case, all your plans would come to naught.

What was your fulfilment?

In fact, I was very much satisfied with the work. If I wasn’t I would have changed a career. I found satisfaction in what I was doing. That was why I served for 34 years.

Who is Oluwo?

My name is Stephen Oluwo. I was born in 1952 at Kukum Daji, Kagoro Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State. I attended Saint Joseph Primary School, Kagoro (1961 - 1967). There I stopped - I had nobody to finance my education; neither my father nor my mother was in a position to finance my higher education. I joined the Nigerian Prisons Service on May 1, 1973 and retired in February 2006. I retired as Senior Inspector of Prisons.