Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed of Bauchi State has requested the Federal Government to consider extending its COVID-19 palliative to Correctional Services across the country to cater for the healthcare needs of inmates.
The governor made the request when the House of Representatives’ Committee on Reformatory Institutions visited him at the Council Chamber, Government House Bauchi.
He said at this period of coronavirus disease, there is a need for the National Assembly to come up with a budgetary allocation that will provide isolation centres in correctional centres to enable inmates access the required medical services.
He also stressed the need for all hands to be on deck to tackle congestion in correctional centres across the country through a robust administrative framework on the speedy dispensation of justice.
“I cherish this visit and I seize the opportunity to observe that members of the correctional services are facing some challenges on how to admit those awaiting trial because of this COVID-19 pandemic.”
“Most of us at the state levels lack the capacity to isolate those on trial or to provide them with required medical care. But we must support our correctional centres to tackle the spread of diseases for the betterment of our inmates.”
” I’m happy with this committee for embarking on inspection of facilities in correctional services and for the welfare of those in the centres and therefore my administration is ready to support you.”
On his part, the Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Tijjani Zanna Zakariyya said the committee is in Bauchi for an oversight function to custodial centers in the state.
He said the committee was mandated to inspect facilities at the correctional centres in the North East with a view to assist in tackling the problem of overstretched facilities bedevilling the Nation’s correctional centres, for an effective reformation of inmates.
