Dr. Uju Agomo, Director General of Prisons Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), Friday, commended President Muhammadu Buhari, for his recent assent to the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019.
Agomo called for effective implementation of the Act, which she described as long awaited, adding that its implementation will greatly enhance the prison system.
The Bills of Eight Senators and Members of the House of Representatives, was harmonised to give birth to the Nigerian Correctional Service Bill.
The lawmakers were: Sen. Shaaba Lafiaji, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, Sen. Babajide Omoworare, Sen. Gershom Bassey, Henry Nwawuba, Ochiglegor Igagbor, Danburam Abubakar and Johnbull Shekarau.
The draft harmonised bill of the 8th Assembly was reviewed by the Committee of Interior of the Senate in April and July 2018.
In April this year, President Buhari however, declined assent to the bill and called for some modifications which were effected. In early August, the president gave his assent to the bill.
At a briefing and sensitisation workshop with some Lagos lawyers and journalists, Agomo expressed delight at the success of the bill, and harped on the need to drive implementation.
“The new law aims to achieve many set objectives, including compliance with international human rights standards and good correctional practices,” she said.
