The Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, has advised the state government to consider releasing more inmates, especially those with pardonable offences, to decongest correctional facilities in the state.
Oladiji made the call when ACG Enitan Famuwagun, the Zonal Coordinator of the Nigeria Correctional Service for Zone K, comprising Ondo and Ekiti States, visited him on Thursday in Akure.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the visit was aimed at seeking the Assembly’s assistance, cooperation and logistical support for the zonal coordinator.
The Speaker advised the zonal coordinator to dialogue with Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa on the need to increase the number of inmates granted amnesty during national celebrations and important occasions.
He said the compassionate gesture would help decongest correctional centres that were currently over-stretched.
Oladiji also tasked the government, organisations and individuals to support improved conditions in correctional facilities, with a focus on the facility infrastructure, rehabilitation and reformation of inmates.
He said that the facilities were meant to reform and rehabilitate inmates rather than subjecting them to harsh conditions that could further toughened their mind-set.
The Speaker said: “I observed during my visit to the correctional facilities in the state that their conditions fall short of the rehabilitative purpose such institutions were established for.
“The House of Assembly remained committed to supporting the correctional facilities in achieving their mandate of reforming, rehabilitating and reintegrating inmates into society.”
He urged the new zonal coordinator to deploy his wealth of experience to bring positive transformation to correctional facilities in the two states.
Earlier, the zonal coordinator explained that Zone K is one of the newly established zones created to strengthen administrative capacity and enhance operational efficiency in the service.
He said the zone was designed to serve as a vital link between national headquarters and the state commands in promoting transparency and improved coordination in the discharge of the service’s core responsibilities.
