Lagos Assembly moves to establish prison
In a bid to decongest federal correctional centres, the Lagos State House of Assembly is deliberating on a bill for a law to establish a correctional service centre in the state.
The bill, titled “A bill for a law to establish the Lagos State Correctional Service, to make provision for the administration of custodian and non-custodian measures in Lagos State and for other connected purposes,” scaled a second reading on Thursday.
It aims to provide a more effective approach to corrections, prioritise rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders into society.
The proposed bill also focuses on providing training and rehabilitation programmes for inmates to promote safer communities.
Giving an insight into the bill on Thursday, the Chairman, Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions and LASIEC, Oladipo Ajomale, emphasised that the bill aligned with international best practices in correctional services.
He noted that the bill aimed to reform and rehabilitate offenders rather than merely punishing them.
He further highlighted some sections of the bill, which aim to ensure health and safety standards within the facilities as well as adequate provision for juvenile offenders, and the use of modern surveillance technologies such as CCTV.
Giving his submission, the Majority Leader, Noheem Adams, said that if passed, the law would cater for the mental and physical welfare of inmates in prisons, ensure proper hygiene and adequate accommodation of prisoners.
Contributing, lawmaker Abiodun Tobun noted that the proposed bill would offer the inmates vocational training and a second chance at life.
Other lawmakers, who echoed similar sentiments, affirmed that the bill would help decongest existing correctional centres, offer inmates life-changing opportunities, and provide structured support for vulnerable young people at risk of criminal behaviours.
Giving his remarks, the Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, appreciated the members for their contributions and described the bill as “the House’s baby,” which must not be neglected.
He emphasised the need for the state to support its justice system with the necessary infrastructure for justice to be effective.
“This bill will ensure a safer, more reformed society and deliver lasting value to the people of Lagos,” Obasa said.
He, thereafter, committed the Bill to the House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and LASIEC to report back in three weeks.
