By Edwin Philip
The third Independent Investigative Panel on Alleged Corruption, Abuse of Power, Torture, Cruel, Inhumane, and Degrading Treatment Against the Nigerian Correctional Service, holding at Transcorp Hilton Abuja has decry lack of psychologist and Psychiatrist in Correctional facilities across the country.
The 60 psychologist said to be under the employment of the Nigerian Correctional Service the committee said they are grossly inadequate to cover the two hundred and fifty six correctional facilities across the country. According to report, some states do not have any, as often times a psychologist is in charge of six to more states which makes inmates suffer from mental health issues and unable to access care.
The chairperson of the panel, Dr Magdalen Ajani, said instead of the Correctional defending it self, they should acknowledge that there are obvious challenges that need urgent attention calling for support and collaboration from the medical and dental association across the country to galvanise more hands to assist in caring for the inmates in need of mental health care and other related issues.
She however call on the human resource department of the service to ensure the equitable deployment of psychologist and Psychiatrist to at least on per State to bridge the gap that is currently posing a severe medical emergencies in the detention facilities.
Adding that the senior psychologist and Psychiatrist who have gained experience over the years should reach out to companies on a partnership bases on the supply of medicine to the inmates, also they should mentor young staff in their area of specialty on how to advocate for partnerships.
The status report relation to the mental health review board, which has been neglected across the country in pursuance to section 24, was brought up.
The panel also deliberated on the issues about women in custody and gender related issues, in line with section 30 (4) of the Nigerian Correctional Service act, the health needs and special attention often required women and identity each challenges in each correctional facilities as it relates to compliance to section 34 even as a temporary measures before full implementation is achieved.
The panel did ask for specific details which will lead to implementation of the section and the challenges in addressing this issues that was brought to the attention of the panel, taking note that six facilities were described as separate facilities for women and how only three of those facilities are fully functional, directing that they six facilities should be mapped.
It was however, observed that the statistics available shows that the percentage of women in the Correctional facilities is about 2.3 percent of the total publication of which has been consistent over the years.
On the Issues around death row inmate, it was stated that the management of death row inmates poses a lot challenges on the Nigerian Correctional Service, from special ration, specific provisions of food, observation in relation to the nature of program that were made available for this inmates, specifically inline with sections (2) of Correctional Service act.
Speaking on the administration of the prerogative of mercy, the panel suggested that Legal Aid Council should at it own will decide either to approach the court through sub section 2(c) also through the administration of the prerogative of mercy.
Seeking that list should be sent to the panel all of the persons who are in the various custodial centers, that are on dead row, male female and the numbers, the final point around dead row inmates, the parole board process, and those who are committed to life to see weather that could be of additional advantage.
Other issues discussed were centered on person with physical disability in the custodian centres and how their welfare are catered for, the sanitation, infrastructure and the management was looked into with directives that the Correctional Service should partner with the Federal Ministry of Works to look into decaying and abandoned infrastructures across the country.
The chairperson however frowned at media representation of facts and figures emanating from panel from the media houses and individuals covering proceedings, that they should take time to to clarify issues that are not clear, to ensure that information are not distorted and the people are misinformed.