The Nigerian Prison Service has been renamed to The Nigerian Prisons and Correctional Service following the third reading and passage of “A Bill for an Act to repeal the Prisons Act Cap. P29 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, to make comprehensive provisions for the administration of Prisons in Nigeria and for related purposes.”
According to the Bill, the name change is “to underscore the humane aspect of the reform focus of prisons administrations and to conform to provisions in the international instrument.”
The Senate also approved a recommendation that deleted the words ‘hard labour’ and replaced it with ‘prison labour’. The Senators noted that “hard labour” is an inheritance from colonial era and should be deleted and replaced with “prison labour.”
The Bill also empowers the State Comptroller of Prisons to reject additional prisoners where the prison in question is already filled to capacity.
Section 6 (4, 5,6) states: “In the event that the prison has exceeded its maximum capacity, the State Comptroller shall notify the Chief Judge of the State or the State Criminal Justice Committee.
“Upon receipt of the notification the Chief Judge or the State Criminal Justice Committee shall within a period not exceeding one month take necessary steps to rectify the overcrowding.
“Without prejudice to subSection 4, the State Comptroller of Prisons in consultation with the Prison Superintendent shall have the power to reject more intake of prisoners where it is apparent that the prison in question is filled to capacity.”
Senate President David Mark urged prison officials to ensure that prisoners do not become “more hardened” after serving their sentences but become better citizens.
Nigerian Prisons have for many years, been burdened with many problems including congestion, poor facilities and non-reforming of the prisoners. It is hoped that these new changes would bring about some necessary changes to the prisons. (Credit: Nation)
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