Indications from the audit report presented by various investigators at the Public Hearing of the Investigative Panel on Corruption and Other Violations against the Nigerian Correctional Service suggests over 80 percent overcrowding in correctional centers in the country.
Declaring open the 2 day public hearing of the investigative panel in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani indicated the commitment of the federal government to reforms in the nations correctional centres.
The Permanent Secretary who is also the chairman of the panel said the essence of the public hearing is to enable people to address the committee on issues relating to the service.
A summary of audit reports presented to the panel cited overcrowding of custodian centers with awaiting trial inmates as a major challenge facing the Nigerian Correctional centers.
Meanwhile, the secretary of the panel, Mrs Uju Agomba who presided over the 2 day public hearing solicited public support as part of a broader efforts by government to build a transformative correctional service.
She assured that the investigative panel will work towards actualizing a comprehensive reform that will create a rehabilitative and corrective correctional service in Nigeria.
