The Controller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) Haliru Nababa, told the National Assembly Committees on Interior that while it costs N800 to feed dogs, inmates were survive on N750 daily at the correctional facilities nationwide.
While defending his department’s 2024 budget before a joint National Assembly committee on interior, Nababa he hoped that the lawmakers would help change the anomaly.
According to him, the NCS was still waiting for the approval of a written to the Minister of Interior “requesting for the review of the amount we are using to feed the inmates from N750 per day, to N3, 000 per day.”
The money he said the N250 per meal for an inmate was grossly inadequate and “we are therefore seeking the assistance of the National Assembly to approve the increment as the daily feeding allowance would be reduced to N720 after the reduction of VAT and tax.
“We have made provision for the feeding of inmates, dogs and staff on training in six training institutions across the country.“
He disclosed that, the “number of the inmates in 2023 is 81, 354 nationwide while 53, 352 are awaiting trial.”
The Chairman of the Committee, Adams Oshiomhole, (APC, Edo North) was shocked at the report of the NCS on the cost of feeding its 900 dogs in its centers and inmates.
He said, “53, 352 or more are not convicted yet, they are awaiting trial. They are not guilty of any offence known to law. For an innocent Nigerian who is being held in a correctional home, N250 per meal is grossly inadequate. I wonder what you are feeding them with. They are obviously underfed; they are not to be dehumanised.”
“The Minister of Interior said yesterday that the NCS rather than being correctional is dehumanising. I am surprised that the 2024 budget is still based on old figures.
He faulted the CG cannot for his failure to “present before us, the realistic amount that could feed an innocent Nigerian who has not been pronounced guilty by any court of law. You mean the menu chart is so complicated that you will need to read a book to tell us?
“Our prisons are meant to correct the behaviours of the people. They are not condemnation centres.”
