The leadership of the National Assembly has proposed the decentralization of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Correctional Service as part of efforts to reform the security, judicial and justice systems of the country.
The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, made this known on Wednesday.
The National Assembly is seeking the movement of correctional services from the Exclusive Legislative List of the Constitution to the Concurrent List.
Lawan, who was represented by Senator Olamilekan Adeola, said, “No society grows without a productive criminal justice system, considering the additional role the sector plays in maintaining order and in fostering peace.
“With rising insecurity, we must be ready to strengthen the justice system and be bold enough to ensure that criminals go through diligent prosecution. This is to serve as deterrence to others, reduce wrongdoings, promoting peace and enhancing growth and development.”
Gbajabiamila, who was represented by a member of the House, Uzuwagbo Ugonna, said, “The scope of the Nigeria Criminal Justice System, beginning with the police, the courts, correctional service, our criminal laws and codes, including human personnel that manage our criminal justice institutions, need reforms.
“As legislators, we will not be opposed to amending the constitution to remove the establishment and management of Correctional Service Centres from the Exclusive Legislative List and add it to the Concurrent List.
“This, I believe, will fast-track and decongest our federal correctional centres and enable willing states to provide better correctional service centres with better living conditions for their people.”
