Public Hearing Day-10: Panel Chairperson acknowledges Minister’s renewed efforts to NCS reforms, others

By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.

The panel Chairperson has used the opportunity of the last day of the Two Weeks Day – 10 of the Second Public Hearing on the alleged corruption, Abuse of Power, Torture, Cruel and Degrading Treatment Against the Nigerian Correctional Service to thank everyone, namely, the member of the investigative panel, the Ministry of Interior, the Federal ministry of Justice, the NBA, the Legal aid, the United Nations, the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Judicial council, the Nigeria Police, the Unicef, the gentlemen of the press, amongst others, for the knowledge they have brought to bear that is leading to a better Nigerian Correctional Service.

Dr. Magdalene Ajani has On Friday 14th, 2025 Day – 10, of the Second Public Hearing closing remarks at Aso Hall, Abuja Continental Hotels, specially thanked the Minister of Interior, Honourable Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo for his invaluable contributions to the Nigerian Correctional Service Reforms, and who felt this should not be a ministerial thing, but make it quiet Independent by bringing renowned resource persons like Dr. Uju Agomoh, and Dr. Iyke Ezeugo, a consultant to the Berekete Radio to bring their reservoir of knowledge to bear in the reforms “, the panel Chairperson states.

Dr. Magdalene Ajani, urged everyone to embrace the Nigerian Correctional Service Reforms for better and effective service, just as she further stressed that this is not the end of the process, according to her at the end of the day we want to have a better Nigerian Correctional Service, rendering efficient service to Nigerians and to Nigerian Inmates in a better environment, “, She remarks.

Nigerian Correctional Service is highly appreciated by the panel Chairperson for accepting it as openly as it was put and for the immense contributions they have made towards achieving the reforms.

According to the panel Chairperson, steps have already been taken to correct all the anomalies that were identified by various stakeholders, including the correctional service officers; all of these steps will be taken to purge the system, which will lead to the Nigerian Correctional Service Reforms” ” she remains.

Dr. Magdalene Ajani sought the support of Nigerians to continue with this and called everyone to please support the reforms that are being done in the correctional service.

Consequently, the panel Secretary, Dr. Uju Agomoh, has specifically highlighted the issues the panel looked at, issues concerning vulnerable persons, issues concerning women, children, and mental disabilities, amongst others that are found across the correctional service centers and the
need to fully implement the provisions of the Nigerian Correctional Service Acts sections ( 34) and (35), as well as the provisions that are found under sections (13) and (14) of the Nigerian Correctional Service Acts as they relate to the subject matter.

The panel mentioned that there is a need to ensure that the relevant processes and organizations are put in place, specifically mentioning that the facilities for Women be put in place.

The panel specifically asked the Nigerian Correctional Service to send its reports in terms of the status of implementation regarding these provisions, including recommendations, in terms of wherever there are challenges. Implementing this issue.

Accordingly, Specifically, the sections that speak to certification of good behavior were also mentioned by the panel and the Panel clearly asked the Nigerian Correctional Service to provide it with clear information regarding, whether in fact, it has submitted the list of inmates that have demonstrated good behavior that requires to be issued a statutory certificate of good behavior by the board, that is the supervising of the correctional service, and that also if that is the case how many of this have the board, have so approved.

Also, if that has been the case that the board has approved, the panel is asking whether, in reality, those who have been issued a certificate of good behavior have had it complied with by the general public.

The panel also speaks about the need for Reintegration and developing programs that will unlock the second prison and ensure this is done across the length and breadth of the country.

The issue regarding mental health as provided under section (24), was also highlighted by the panel.

The Panel did ask that the correctional service is meant to know the level of compliance in terms of section (24), specifically in terms of the functionality of the mental health review board that was Inaugurated by the correctional service Controller General sometime on the 25th of August, 2023.

The second thematic focus issue the panel looked at today was around Reformation, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration; it clearly recalled the true provisions of the correctional service acts about section (10), also including the issue of risks and needs assessment that is supposed to be dealt with.

The panel through its Chairperson, spoke about some of the renovations that are happening across some of the correctional service centers and the need to provide additional support towards this, she called on the general public to support the correctional service about the provision of the equipment as well as the provision of personnel”, Dr. Uju Agomoh said in a statement.

In that same breath, she requested the Nigerian Correctional Service submit to the board the requirement for recruitment for the area that the requirements had staffing in terms of provisions of some of those skills training.

The panel also commended the work and partnership with the Open University and the Nigerian correctional service and sought a more sustainable mechanism in terms of informal training with the custodial centers.

It is clearly stated by the panel that skills acquisition and educational programs, both formal and informal, be made available to all inmates that so desire, especially understanding that Nigeria has the highest number of inmates that have not yet been convicted and many spend a lot of time in those facilities.

The panel recommendations that are made in terms of everyone supporting this process were also highlighted.

The panel was very specific in seeking the collaboration of the judiciary concerning the implementation of section (12) (4) (12) of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, as well as some provisions under sections (13) and (14) of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act.

Accordingly, the panel’s last breath is recognizing that there are so many good things that are happening and so many things that also need to be enhanced to make sure they happen.

The panel cited one of the key green lights in the Nigerian Correctional Service Acts of 2019, which is the fact that the law has provided a way of sharing profits that parts that come out from the enterprises within the correctional service and that it should be maximized so that inmates will have some funds from their work in the correctional service that will contribute to their reintegration and reformation even while they are released.

And that this must be focused very much on and the panel did flag that including the private sector and the government can patronize this process so that these enterprises including the farm centers can genuinely generate revenues that can be divided as having provided by the law, so that the information, rehabilitation, and reintegration will be at the level that Nigerian we all be proud of”, the panel Secretary read out.