By Edwin Philip
The need to step up the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates in custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service has been described as key to everyone who is behind the walls, as it obvious if he or she does not die in custody, there is hope of them regaining freedom someday.
This was the resolution of the day 3 of the third independent investigative panel on the alleged corruption, abuse of power, torture, cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment against the Nigerian Correctional Service, holding at Transcorp Hilton Abuja.
The theme of rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates was said to be the essence of puting and individual behind the walls for the inmates to be reformed and transformed as well as reintegrated into the society, which entails multifaceted approach to achieve measures, such as skills acquisition, trade test, education and moral support.
Taking cognizance of the presentation of the day by the Correctional Service, the panel noted that the service need to have a comprehensive non custodial activities for the inmates in their facilities to engage in reforming the inmates.
The service read out to the participants of the panel the positions of section 14, the panel asked questions in relation to the compliance level of section 14, (4) Correctional Service act of 2019, that speak to the issue of dividing the proceed from enterprises be it from the farm centres or the vocational industries owned and run by Correctional centre.
The panel was worried about the need to comply fully on the revolving funds towards the effective utilisation and sustainability of the enterprise that has been set up, which would have to preview, and discussed once this is effected.
The panel however, discussed with the Correctional Service the need for innovations, it also added the need for incentive for the staff, the centre and the inmates operating the enterprise, while seeking to know the numbers of inmates that are participating in the workshop as well as the different types that are approved in those correctional centres as well as the level of impact on the inmates.
The panel also acknowledged the receipt of the list of inmates that have been trained, since January to June, of 2025 as the equipment given for that period and ask for the complete breakdown of the names to be able to know which correctional centre has been administered both in terns of the trade test and the skills.
Some organizations were acknowledged for contributing and partnering with the Correctional Service, recognition of all of the organizations that are supportive, the NGOs, the development partners, as well as the National Open University, and the panel asked for a comprehensive support that will enable the NGOs and other partners to effortlessly make their own contribution in a way that would be more impactful and as well as ensuring that the mechanism are institutionalized.
The Panel reiterated the call for the government and other organizations to see the need to support enterprises of Correctional Service so as to sustain the business.
As a way of deepening family integration, the panel sought to know if the family of inmates, both the children of the inmates know the need to be visiting the facilities to give them some sense of belonging.
The Minister of Interior was spotlighted for being an example, urging other ministries to open up it service by getting different voices to input into it strategies so as to improve their work as it been done by the ministry of interior.
They appreciated the Minister for setting up the panel and by providing support for it. The panel also applauded the Controller General of Corrections for the transparency, and collaboration he has given to the panel to access information and institutions of the Correctional Service, for bringing the relevant staff of the department, unit and directorate of the Correctional Service to each of the sections .