By Lukman Olabiyi
In a transformative move for Nigeria’s correctional system, recent legislative changes now empower state governments to establish and oversee their own correctional facilities.
This shift, which emerged from a constitution amendment signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari in March 2023, transfers the management of correctional services from the federal to the concurrent legislative list.
This change is designed to better address local needs, enhance inmate management and introduce innovative rehabilitation programmes.
For Lagos, this means an opportunity to tailor its correctional system to meet local challenges effectively.
To steer this transition, the Headfort Foundation for Justice, a leading NGO focused on inmate welfare and access to justice, recently brought together a crucial group of stakeholders.
The aim was to have input in the draft of Lagos State’s new correctional service laws, which are currently being work on by the state Ministry of Justice and will soon be pass to the Lagos State House of Assembly for review and passage.
The meeting, dubbed the ‘Stakeholders dialogue on enacting state correctional laws in Lagos State,’ took place at the Centre of Management Development in Magodo, Lagos.
Mrs. Oluyemi Orija, executive director of Headfort Foundation for Justice, emphasized the significance of the dialogue in shaping laws that would impact those directly affected.
“The essence of this programme was to gather stakeholders to make recommendations for the new correctional laws,” Orija said.
She explained that the March 2023 constitutional amendment allows states like Lagos to address correctional issues with greater autonomy, reflecting the evolving needs within the justice system.
Orija stressed that the law’s drafting committee is actively working on the new legislation. While the process involves more than just stakeholders, their input is crucial.
The focus includes adhering to international standards such as Mandela’s rules and addressing critical issues like overcrowding and inadequate healthcare in correctional centers.
“The goal is to enact a law specifically tailored to Lagos’s needs, not just adopt national practices,” Orija stated.
She raised concerns about the insufficient funds allocated for inmate feeding, noting that overcrowding exacerbates health risks and demands urgent reforms.
Rotimi Oladokun, the public relations officer for the Nigerian Correctional Services in Lagos, highlighted the need for the new law to address inmate rehabilitation.
He emphasized the importance of finding solutions to decongest facilities and improve conditions for effective rehabilitation and reintegration.
Joy Ugbomoiko, deputy chief registrar (legal) of Lagos State Judiciary, discussed the shift towards non-custodial sentences, such as community service, for less severe offenses. She stressed the importance of effective monitoring to ensure compliance and prevent defaults.
Oluwaseyi Olawumi, chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja branch, commended the dialogue’s significance, urging the Lagos State House of Assembly to tailor laws to Nigeria’s unique context.
He called for closer collaboration between the NBA and the foundation to support prison decongestion efforts. He called of judges, magistrates and lawyers to do more on effort to decongest the prison.
Mrs. Aderinsola Olarewaju, director of legislative drafting at Lagos State Ministry of Justice, acknowledged the foundation’s initiative and anticipated that the draft law would be presented to the state House of Assembly before the end of the year.
In her contribution, Lagos State House of Assembly, deputy speaker, Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, commended the foundation for its different imitative on access to justice.
Meranda who was represented by a senior legislative adviser (SLA), Adeleye Adeleke, pledged the House of Assembly’s commitment in giving all the necessary attention to the quick passage of the new laws.
Generally, all the stakeholders agreed that there should be speedy dispensation of justice in the courts to decongest the states correctional centres.
As Lagos embarks on this new chapter, the focus will be on balancing innovation with oversight. This legislative change is a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s correctional services, marking a move towards more localized, responsive, and efficient management. The success of this initiative could set a precedent for other states, demonstrating the benefits of decentralization while addressing inherent challenges.