Dogara: We Can’t Allow Prisons Service to Fail

James Emejo

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, yesterday said the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) is critical to the overall security architecture and can’t be allowed to fail.

Speaking at a public hearing by the House Committee on Interior on eight reform bills including a bill for an Act to repeal the prisons Act, 2004 and re-eanct the Nigerian Prisons and correctional service to make comprehensive provisions for the administration of prisons in Nigeria, he said the service can’t and afford to fail at a period where the country is confronted with numerous challenges.

Represented by Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Pally Iriase (APC, Edo), the speaker said the House is prepared to identify existing gaps in exiting, laws; exacting as well as repealing them to properly position the service for effective and enhanced service delivery to the country.

Chairman, House Committee on Interior, Hon. Adams Jagaba (APC, Kaduna) said there are lots of problems which had been identified in the nation’s correctional facilities and these shortcomings are visible to Nigerians.

He said: “We will make prisons measure up to international Standards.”

Among other things, the bill seeks to encourage correctional facilities to live up to expectation of reforming convicts before releasing them back to the society and provides support for programmes that prepare offenders for their release.

The bill further seeks to establish correctional center and other branches in all the prison formations accross the country.