Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, has raised alarm over the living conditions of prison inmates in Nigeria, expressing astonishment that the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) allocates more funds to feed its dogs than the prisoners.
During the 2024 budget defense session with the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Interior, Oshiomhole criticized the budget distribution, revealing that the NCS spends N800 per day to feed each of its 900 dogs, while only N750 is allocated per prisoner, many of whom are awaiting trials.
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Haliru Nababa, the Comptroller General of the Correctional Service, informed the Committee that the current allocation of N750 per inmate per day, with N250 for each meal, is insufficient.
With over 81,000 inmates nationwide, including 53,000 awaiting trial, Nababa proposed an upward revision to N3,000 per day per inmate, a request submitted to the Minister of Interior.
He emphasized the inadequacy of the current budget, which would be further reduced to N720 after considering the reduction of VAT and tax.
Oshiomhole expressed concern over the dehumanizing treatment of Nigerians, highlighting the irony that the government seemingly prioritizes spending more on feeding dogs than its citizens.
He called for a correction of past errors and emphasized the need for the government to address unemployment, attributing the worsening situation to foreign prisoners taking jobs meant for Nigerians.
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As the Senate Committee delves into this budgetary disparity, it brings to light a pressing issue of neglect and insufficient resources allocated to the well-being of inmates, prompting a call for corrective measures to ensure humane treatment and fair budget distribution within the correctional system.
